When it comes to the environment as a federal election issue there are few differences between the major political parties. Energy, and in particular nuclear energy, may emerge as the only real point of different between the major political parties.
After all, both the Coalition and Labor have agreed to allow a pulp mill to be built in Tasmania, both are hell-bent on buying back water licences from irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin and both are ignoring the difficult issue of tree-clearing in our rangelands.
So, there is no heated debate on the logging of old-growth forest or how much water is needed to save the Murray River -- issues that so dominated the last federal election campaign.
The focus has changed and is now about climate change and how we power our cities while reducing carbon emissions.
The Coalition is suggesting we meet the energy challenge and the threat of climate change through an emissions trading scheme and developing low emissions technologies including solar power, clean coal and even nuclear power.
The ALP is dealing with climate change and water supply as one issue, promising to sign the Kyoto Protocol, provide rebates for rainwater tanks, loans to working-families that invest in solar energy and to prevent nuclear reactors being built.
Apart from the issue of Kyoto -- which is almost a non-issue given the Coalition plans to endorse an emissions trading scheme -- nuclear seems to be the standout defining environmental issue this federal election.
So what are the implications for rural and regional Australia?
Well, nuclear power is the only proven and reliable form of base-load energy that is greenhouse neutral.
It is also likely to be much cheaper than wind and solar -- other greenhouse neutral forms of energy.
Should the Coalition be returned at the federal election, several nuclear power stations could be built beside the sea in regions where Australia's population is concentrated and where there is water for cooling the reactors.
So, at least theoretically, there might be less interest in wind farms and new coal mines which could be good news for farmers in windy places and on coal seams like the Liverpool Plains.
To achieve the necessary economies of scale, the nuclear power stations are likely to produce a lot of energy. For example, if a nuclear power station was built for Adelaide there would probably also be enough energy to power a desalination plant. This could relieve pressure on the Murray River which is currently a major source of water for that city.
All in all, the development of a nuclear power industry is worth considering -- it's a pity the ALP didn't copy this Coalition policy too.
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