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PM Scott Morrison announces the AUKUS alliance with his UK and US counterparts at Parliament House . Photo : Gary Ramage
We have the capability , the will and the desire to deliver the experts our nation needs .
Going nuclear
ANU to play critical role in developing Australia ’ s nuclearpowered submarine technology .
By Wade Zaglas
The Australian National University has taken on the task of training the country ’ s “ next generation of nuclear scientists and practitioners ”, following the scrapping of the $ 90 billion French submarines deal and the establishment of the AUKUS alliance between the US , Australia and the UK .
One of the university ’ s priorities is to bolster the strength of the current nuclear workforce .
“ For more than 70 years , ANU has trained the nation and the world ’ s nuclear scientists and experts and is the only university in Australia providing comprehensive training in nuclear physics from the undergraduate to postdoctoral level ,” the university said .
“ ANU also runs the country ’ s highest energy heavy ion accelerator – the only facility in Australia dedicated to nuclear physics research which enables hands-on training .”
Head of the ANU Department of Nuclear Physics , Professor Andrew Stuchbery , said the historic deal opened up exciting opportunities for nuclear science in the country , “ which until now had limited workforce needs in the field ”.
“ This deal changes everything when it comes to nuclear science in Australia ,” Stuchbery said . “ It ushers in a new era for the nation .
“ In the past , Australia ’ s nuclear technology workforce needs have been minimal and a lot of talented and trained people from across nuclear science have headed overseas .”
The nuclear physics scientist said ANU ’ s undergraduate and postgraduate programs in this field cover the gamut of nuclear science , such as reactor science , nuclear fuel cycles , and ensuring “ policy debates on nuclear issues are informed by science and best practice ”.
“ For decades we ’ ve been training the nuclear experts Australia needs to safely deploy nuclear energy and technologies , including intensive courses with the Department of Defence ,” Stuchbery said .
“ We look forward to training the future generations of practitioners Australia will now need and who will help build , deploy and manage these new technologies as a consequence of this historic security deal .”
Professor Mahananda Dasgupta , director of the ANU Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility ( HIAF ), said the facility is the only one in the country dedicated to “ fundamental nuclear research ” and also has the support of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Fund .
“ With Australia now taking on nuclearpowered subs , it is vital that the workforce understands the underpinning science and gets hands-on training in handling sophisticated instruments . That ’ s what the HIAF enables ,” Dasgupta said .
“ It drives new knowledge on fundamental nuclear processes , including nuclear reactions , nuclear structure , and highly sensitive detection methods to enable environmental monitoring at world-best levels .
“ We also provide a lab environment for training personnel from Defence , ANSTO ,
ASIO , ONA , DFAT and Customs to learn and develop a hands-on understanding of nuclear science ."
Professor Tim Senden , director of the ANU Research School of Physics , said ANU was equipped and prepared to spearhead Australia ’ s development in this area and “ serve the nation ”. “ It is no different when it comes to the vital field of nuclear science ,” he said .
“ Australia will need talented , well-trained and knowledgeable experts in nuclear science . At ANU we have the capability , the will and the desire to deliver the experts our nation needs .”
Senden also invited anyone with a passion for working in this area to join the university ’ s activities .
DOMESTIC ANXIETIES While Australia currently does not have much nuclear capability , AUKUS partners the US and the UK will collaborate with Australia during the next 18 months to decide how the plan will be realised , as well as how the nuclear-propelled submarines will be refuelled .
And while defence department secretary Greg Moriarty said that “ the management of waste , the disposal of the submarine at the end of its life , all of those are issues where we will be engaging with our US and UK partners ,” other politicians aren ’ t convinced .
Greens leader Adam Bandt , for example , has called the nuclear submarines " floating Chernobyls ", adding his party would vigorously oppose the new agreement .
Concerns have also been raised by Naval Group employees , who are based in South Australia and had been working on the new French submarines . A Naval Group worker told the ABC they knew little about what their futures would hold .
" It ' s very fresh so we don ' t know ," he said . " We were not expecting this ."
However , while finance minister Simon Birmingham said there was a " firm commitment " to helping them transition into new roles , he could not guarantee that all of Naval Group ' s employees would retain their jobs . ■
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