"why would anyone with even half a brain back the most expensive and high risk source of power known to humanity "
Reliability ... for one
CO2 friendly ... for another
Abundant fuel supply etc
Australia is one of the most geological stable places on the planet.
Why not go nuclear?
Europe has had nuclear power generation for 50 years so far without any problems.
And guess what ... there's a small nuclear reactor in Sydney's southern suburbs.
Been there since 1958.
No problems.
