In 1972, due to internal political debates, Australia abandoned its plans to acquire nuclear weapons and provide the technological capability to create them. There were two reasons: the risk of losing U.S. support and provoking nuclear militarization in East and Southeast Asia. And there were no guarantees that a limited nuclear arsenal would be a sufficient means to deter aggression.
After that, Australia signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty. According to this document, Australia refused to possess nuclear explosive devices and pledged not to allow nuclear tests on its territory.
However, after the AUKUS (Australia, UK, USA) creation last year, China and Russia began to actively criticize Australia, accusing it of violating the NPT. The Australians and their partners have set a goal to create a nuclear submarine fleet with non-nuclear weapons.
It was emphasized that Australia would not transfer nuclear weapons and peaceful atomic technologies. However, concerns were expressed that Australia's future nuclear submarines would potentially be equipped with nuclear weapons of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Australia is a key U.S. ally, and Washington is unlikely to approve the resumption of the Australian nuclear program. Besides, Canberra does not have the necessary capacities for uranium enrichment.
A nuclear program could prevent the Australians from maintaining their position as a regional leader in Oceania. Smaller states in the region are concerned about the environment and climate change, and a nuclear program is unlikely to help win the trust of neighboring countries.
Yet the growing threat from China in the region or a change in the world order in the event of a nuclear attack by Russia may make the Australians think again about the practicality of not having a nuclear program.