Two points:

1) Since when has the Commonwealth had any say on how electricity is generated. Thats a States responsibility.

This is a distraction, nothing more. Its a debate Howard can't loose. If the inquiry finds against nuclear generation Howard can walk away saying at least we now know. If it finds for then the States will protect him from political damage by refusing to allow them.

2) If nuclear is so safe why does the industry demand a cap on damage claims. AFAIK, no other does.

Ian
re: 1) Since when has the Commonwealth had any say on how electricity is generated. That's a State's responsibility.
Nope.No longer. That was yesterday. The commonwealth intervenes, and is a part of electricity, with CoAG's establishment of the national electricity market and the establishment of a national energy regulator.

Ian,
Re: 2) If nuclear is so safe why does the industry demand a cap on damage claims. AFAIK, no other does.
Me thinks that they--the nuclear industry-- are talking about the new generation of nuclear reactors that are still in the pipeline.

That is what the Nuclear scientist and publicist Leslie Kemeny is saying. I remember an article he written in The Australian where he said you could put them in Wommera---a reference to WMC + Roxby Downs?

From what I can the reactors are the way the nuclear industry attempts to overcome the harsh economic realities of nuclear power being 2-3 times more expensive.The industry has produced a series of reports on the economics of a "new generation" of nuclear power stations that only exists on paper at present.

The report to ANSTO by leading nuclear industry figure, John Gittus, claiming that a non-existent nuclear power station, AP1000, would be competitive with coal power in eastern Australia

It's dream time.

The national energy regulator is there to ensure there is a degree of fairness in the marketing of electricity, but I think you'll find the regulatatory/licensing control of generators is still a state responsibility, Gary.

Ian,
I don't want to suggest an either or. Like water energy has become a together through CoAG: a "co-operative" federalism.

Of course states have a lot of leeway--they can facilitate the shift in their own territory to a greater reliance on renewable energy; but here are limits. The ethos of the national energy market, for instance, is efficiency not sustainability.

That means SA is limited to how much electricty it can generate through solar and wind.