Richard Broinowski, former diplomat and author of the 2003 study 'Fact or Fission - the Truth about Australia's Nuclear Ambitions', writes that in his call for a 'full-blooded' nuclear debate, Prime Minister Howard probably doesn't wish to see such a taboo subject raised. But for more than three decades Australian politicians and military, scientific and cabinet officials conducted a campaign to persuade the government of the day to acquire or develop nuclear weapons. The fact is that Australia has the resources and technology to develop its own nuclear weapons.