---
title: Amid flood crisis, Morrison is focused on nuclear subs
description: Residents of Newcastle and Wollongong have been unsettled at the Morrison government naming their cities as a potential base for nuclear-powered submarines.
---
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# Amid flood crisis, Morrison is focused on nuclear subs
Tuesday, 8 March 2022
Residents of the NSW cities of Newcastle and Wollongong have been unsettled at the Morrison government naming their cities as a potential base for nuclear-powered submarines.
With the federal government busy missing in action, communities in flood-devastated parts of northern NSW have been left to fend for themselves with a group of volunteers in Byron preparing an estimated 60,000 meals for flood victims.
And Federal resources minister Keith Pitt has gifted another $7.5 million to the gas industry to drill in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin, with the Morrison government doubling down on its perennial support for growing the fossil fuel industry.
[Chefs lead volunteers to feed NSW flood victims in absence of government food relief](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/08/chefs-lead-volunteers-to-feed-nsw-flood-victims-in-absence-of-government-food-relief)
With the Morrison government nowhere to be seen volunteers at Byron Bayhave cooked an estimated 60,000 meals for flood victims, aided by $170,000 in donations and the participation of countless other businesses.
[Coalition shortlist for nuclear submarines base were not in Defence’s top five in 2011 review](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/08/coalition-shortlist-for-nuclear-submarines-base-were-not-in-defences-top-five-in-2011-review)
The mayors of Newcastle and Wollongong have expressed unease at the Morrison government naming their cities as a potential base for nuclear-powered submarines, with one describing the Aukus plans as a “fantasy”.
[‘Do not travel’: Warning for motorists as storms wreak havoc on roads and rail](https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/do-not-travel-warning-for-motorists-as-storms-wreak-havoc-on-roads-and-rail/news-story/aeecebddbb4837f4252279498955cc6b)
Sydney motorists and commuters have been told to avoid all non-essential travel as floods and heavy rain create chaos on roads and public transport.
[Pitt uses Russian invasion to justify another handout for gas drilling in Beetaloo Basin](https://reneweconomy.com.au/pitt-uses-russian-invasion-to-justify-another-handout-for-gas-drilling-in-beetaloo-basin/)
Federal resources minister Keith Pitt has gifted another $7.5 million to the gas industry to drill for gas in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin, with the Morrison government doubling down on its support for an expanded fossil fuel industry.
[Daintree rainforest residents a step closer to getting power from solar-to-hydrogen microgrid](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-07/daintree-rainforest-closer-to-power-solar-hydrogen-microgrid/100883058)
The federal government will sign off on a multi-million-dollar deal to bring power to townships living among the World Heritage-listed Daintree rainforest in Far North Queensland.
[Our politicians have lost their moral compass on climate](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afr.com%2Fpolicy%2Fenergy-and-climate%2Four-politicians-have-lost-their-moral-compass-on-climate-20220307-p5a2bg&uId=5a778e7a00aa2026a265262c&cId=5a71496272d9dc241933e61d&contextId=6226568ff71daafb3198c88a&dId=nBfh0nN89f9DaM_9Wnz_iTsWdKo&op=open&sentiment=N&isHosted=false&id=3628643&name=Coal%20(Print%20and%20Online)&type=search&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hZnIuY29tIn0.0eWs-P9mn8o1sNfbtjIfr9tPiaaq6QkGgqmUmDKo8SwpztpZSmSAIDeh3JALlEDFb331RPa6hzTK1A3JmeMMmA&s=mail-digest)
Australia’s carbon policy is little more than selling coal until somebody makes us stop. Only a carbon tax will curb our worst instincts.
[Coal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/coal), [gas](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/gas), [energy policy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/energy-policy), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change)
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