Unique among large, developed nations, Australia has a legislative ban on nuclear power. The ban was introduced via a Greens amendment in the Senate on December 10, 1999. There was less than 10 minutes of debate on the matter.
The Howard Coalition government at the time was seeking legislative support to build a new research reactor at Lucas Heights. The Greens moved an amendment to the enabling legislation to prohibit the construction of a “nuclear power plant” anywhere in Australia. Wit…