ANSTO submissions and discussion papers

ANSTO contributes to the national and international nuclear science and technology debate by providing information and thought leadership on relevant topics. The following section represents an archive of recent talks, submissions and discussion papers.

ANSTO submissions and discussion papers

Radioactive waste management paper (2011)

Thorium fuel cycle - an alternative source of nuclear energy to the uranium fuel cycle (updated March 2011).

Nuclear power in Australia - ANSTO energy submission to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (2009).

Energy security - ANSTO submission to the Senate Select Committee on Fuel and Energy, July 2009.

Nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament - ANSTO submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Inquiry into Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, January 2009, plus supplementary information, April 2009.

Regional issues

ANSTO's relationship with ASEAN - ANSTO submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trades Inquiry into Australia's Relationship with ASEAN (October 2008).

Security of radioactive sources in Papua New Guinea - ANSTO submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trades Inquiry into the economic and security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific (October 2008).

Owen enquiry - ANSTO submission into NSW energy needs, June 2007.

Information papers

Nuclear Options Paper - Introducing nuclear power to Australia; an economic comparison. By Professor John Gittus, August 2006.

Recent topics and issues

Ministerial review

Ministerial review of ANSTO Health: Terms of Reference [link to Ministerial website] (April 2011)

Should Australia go nuclear?

This was the topic of debate between the leader of the Greens, Senator Bob Brown, and ANSTO's Chairman, Dr Ziggy Switkowski, at the National Press Club on Wednesday April 7 (see notes here). Of the top 28 economies globally, Australia is the only country not to embrace nuclear power. Its hard to believe that we have a unique set of energy options or an original list of reservations about the nuclear fuel cycle which the citizens of other countries have failed to grasp, asserted Dr Switkowski.

The availability of wind, sunshine, coastline, sand, clouds, etc., is not the basis of a cost-effective energy strategy, or an enduring competitive advantage in contrast to our reserves of mineral resources including coal, gas and uranium. If the audience did not accept the gravity of the global warming challenge and the need to find alternatives to oil, gas and coal, and did not consider the opportunities presented by new high tech industries worthwhile, then they did not need to consider nuclear power.

"If they thought these were worthwhile, then they should actively participate in a national debate about nuclear energy in our nations strategic thinking and achieve bipartisan political support before putting a world-class regulatory and environmental regime to oversee this high growth industry," said Dr Switkowski, who went on to suggest that Australia could build its first power reactor by 2020, with a complete a network of ten power reactors by 2030.

Proposal for a national radioactive waste facility

The proposal for a national radioactive waste facility in Australia has generated much public debate recently. In order to support informed community debate on the topic, ANSTO has published a lengthy information paperthat provides facts, figures and background on the types of radioactive waste stored in Australia, as well as information on the benefits of a national waste facility in aligning Australian practice with international best practice.

National and international nuclear community links

Go to the Global linkspage for leads on global nuclear news and agencies.

For links to Australian associations and agencies, go to the Australian nuclear community page.

ANSTO talks

What is Australia's nuclear future? ANSTO CEO, Dr Adi Paterson, delivers his thoughts on Australia's nuclear future as part of a talk given to Bragg Institute scientists in late December, 2009.

Speeches by Dr Ziggy Switkowski*
 

*Please note that Dr Switkowski's views are his own, and do not reflect ANSTO's opinions or policies.

Should Australia go nuclear? This was the topic of debate between the leader of the Greens, Senator Bob Brown, and ANSTOs Chairman, Dr Ziggy Switkowski, at the National Press Club on Wednesday April 7 (see notes here).

On 4 March 2010, ABC Environment journalist, Simon Grose, wrote a feature story which proposes that Australians are becoming more willing to accept the idea of nuclear power. Dr Zwitkowski is quoted at length, and cites a 2007 survey of residents who live near ANSTO which found that 77 per cent judged it to be safe, a rise of 12 per cent compared to a 2004 survey.

When will Australia be ready for Nuclear Power? Keynote address to the Australian Nuclear Association (ANA) at it annual conference, 2 October 2009.

Nuclear Power - The perspective in 2009. Why we need to talk about nuclear power if we are serious about clean energy (Royal Society of Victoria - June 11, 2009).

International debates

Copenhagen Going beyond Kyoto. Comment by ANSTO's Strategy, Government and International Relations team regarding the upcoming conference and whether nuclear power will be included as part of the Clean Development Mechanism.

Non-ANSTO documents

The Sydney Morning Herald reports on a survey suggesting that that one in two Australians favour consideration of nuclear power to reduce carbon pollution.

Nuclear power in Australia - report of the Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Power Review (UMPNER), provided to the Federal Government in 2006.