The conservative (LNP) party who are behind the latest push for SMR's, were in government from 2013-2022 and strongly opposed any nuclear power generation.
Since losing government their leader Peter Dutton has taken a keen interest in SMR's as a path forward for Australia to transition from fossil fuel (coal and gas) base load power generation. The key issue is, Australia's coal power plants are being retired now. The fossil fuel industry is pushing the SMR pipedream (via the LNP), knowing SMR's are years off (if practical), as it will extend the dependence on gas.
LNP hasn't provided any plan or policy detail other than a pamphlet and a few slides. Yet the MSM media continue to give this nonsense idea oxygen, despite various experts and reports dismissing it as unproven, too expensive, slow to build and multiple times more costly to operate per MW.
Australia is blessed with ample space and abundant sunshine, wind, where renewable's provided 40% of the total power in 2023. By 2030, that will reach close to 80% (current target). Gas will have a part, but only for dispatchable power generation. The idea that it will be a major source of power generation fanciful, given how expensive gas is in Australia.
While Australia is the 2nd largest LNG exporter, local gas is expensive. For most of Australia, there is no local reservation policy, meaning producers charge locals global prices, thus making gas power generation a very lucrative proposition for the gas cartel, hence their drive to stifle moves to renewable's.
Talk of SMR has been playing out for months in Australian politics. With any luck RAI and CSIRO reports will finally put it to bed.