New Liberal senator Alex Antic has joined the push for nuclear power through capitalising on South Australia's uranium industry.
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Senator Antic's first speech to parliament on Tuesday signalled he would add another nuclear advocate to the Liberal Party's parliamentary ranks.
"The reckless rush into the unproven, un-costed world of renewable energy represents both the deceased canary down the coalmine, as well as a masterclass of failed policy from a failed former Labor government," he said.
The Morrison government has announced an inquiry into nuclear power after the issue was raised by a rump of coalition backbenchers.
Senator Antic said "everything old could be new again" in his state, noting its history of uranium mining dating back to the early 1900s.
He said Australia was the third-biggest uranium producer behind Kazakhstan and Canada, with a sizeable share of the reserves in SA.
"The curiosity of exporting uranium to the world, in so doing supplying our neighbours with cheap proven, virtually emission-free energy, while at home we are restricted from accessing the same benefits, must be addressed," he said.
The former Adelaide councillor said small modular reactors would increase efficiency and safety, while reducing the cost of nuclear power generation.
"Comparing the old tech generators to the future of nuclear power is like comparing a Motorola Dynatac mobile phone from 1983 to a brand new iPhone 11," Senator Antic said.
He said the French had struck a balance between safety and cost-effective energy generation.
"I doubt there are many in this chamber who would register concerns about knocking back a bottle of French champagne for fear of developing radiation sickness," Senator Antic said.
SA has the capacity to develop a safe nuclear waste facility which could bring billions into the state, he said.
Senator Antic also took aim at the "tyranny" of political correctness.
He wants to protect an Australia without corporations seeking to impart political ethos on customers or sporting codes prioritising social justice causes over the core business of the game.
Senator Antic summed up his conservative values by quoting rapper Ice Cube who said: "Life ain't a track meet, it's a marathon."
Australian Associated Press
