There has been plenty of exploratory/preperative work on hot dry rock, at least those in the ne of S.A., and I believe a plant may be technically viable. It seem to me the two biggest obstacles are the distribution grid, we would need 1000s of km of new power lines, and the water supply. Sure there is plenty of water up there now but most of the time it's like a dead dingoes donger. Of course, if they closed Olympic Dam that would free up some artesian supplies ....
Sad to say but I don't know enough about thorium reactors to comment, my fault I know but I'm far from alone there. The trouble is that people have been lied to over nuclear power for a long time and they know they have been lied to. So even if thorium reactors really are the panacea there will need to be one of the most effective publicity/eduaction programs ever to get the idea accepted. Especially so in the light of this research.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articl...11/3265013.htm
My apolitical contribution to this completely apolitical thread.