Pauline Hanson has called for two nuclear reactors to be built on Australia's east coast, a position that diverges from One Nation's official policy. Speaking in Victoria ahead of the November state election, the One Nation leader said "the reactors need to happen" while also urging taxpayer funding to keep the coal-fired Loy Yang power station near Traralgon operational, citing the need for a "diversity" of power supply.
Divergence from Official Party Policy
Hanson insisted her stance is "nothing like" Peter Dutton's unsuccessful push to build nuclear plants during his election campaign. However, One Nation's official policy calls for $6.8bn to be spent on constructing a single east coast nuclear reactor, at a site chosen with community consultation.
Her remarks in Victoria highlight a tension within the party's energy strategy, as she advocates for both nuclear expansion and continued reliance on coal. The comments come as Australia debates its future energy mix amid climate concerns and reliability issues.
Nepal Flood Crisis: On-the-Ground Reporting
Elsewhere, Guardian Australia's Cait Kelly is reporting from Nepal, where the country is grappling with the aftermath of the Nepal-Tibet flood disaster. Kelly described the scene at a relief centre in Bidur: "Chopper blades cutting through the air as helicopters come and go from the main army response centre, at the entrance to Nepal's flood zone. Then, there is the smell. A putrid, iodine smell. Blood and bone. The severe heat beating down on bodies packed into white bags – being carried off in helicopters and laid in an area so families can identify them."
The flash floods have killed hundreds and left many more missing. Rescue efforts are complicated by the risk of a landslide-formed lake overflowing and by difficult access to affected areas, as reported by south Asia correspondent Hannah Ellis-Petersen.
NSW Opposition Leader on Online Safety
In New South Wales, opposition leader Kellie Sloane has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after a 16-year-old girl died from a suspected sexual strangulation incident. Sloane said certain types of pornography should be placed in the most restricted category, and pressure should be applied to porn companies and social media giants to "just make sure wherever we're at, we can block it." She added, "These algorithms prey on people."
The US Open tennis tournament has also come under scrutiny, with record crowds, $100 chicken nuggets, and an unchecked resale market transforming the event into a symbol of New York's affordability crisis, leaving ordinary fans struggling to attend.
