Australia must remain a nuclear-free country.
Nuclear energy and arms are not compatible with a clean future.
It's a costly distraction from effective climate action that risks delaying – and even derailing – the sensible, considered and speedy transition to renewables that is already well underway and essential to protect the environment and safeguard our future.
To our elected representatives, we call on you to make Australia nuclear-free:
- End uranium mining and exports, and clean up all old uranium mines;
- Say no to nuclear power – it is high-risk, high-cost and a dangerous distraction from real climate solutions, like clean energy from the sun and wind;
- Take a strong stand against nuclear weapons – this includes signing and ratifying the UN nuclear weapons ban treaty;
- Manage radioactive waste transparently and responsibly.
The exaggerated claims being made by the latest round of nuclear promoters do not alter the evidence which clearly shows nuclear is the worst option for Australia.
There are many reasons nuclear energy is not a viable alternative for Australia’s energy future:
-
It takes too long – on average, it takes about nine years to build a nuclear power station and another 10 years for planning and licensing. Effectively that means two decades between first idea and first power. These are the critical decades to immediately reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
-
It’s dirty and dangerous – Nuclear power stations pose significant community, environment and health risks. Apart from the radioactive waste they generate, nuclear power stations run on uranium which, like coal and gas, is not a renewable resource.
-
It’s far more expensive than renewable options – Modelling shows developing nuclear infrastructure is 5-10 times more expensive than solar and wind. And even if the technology was in place, it would also cost more to produce.
-
It needs a lot of water – Nuclear reactors use tonnes of water per second to cool the reactors to produce electricity. This is unlike wind and solar which require little or no ongoing water use.
-
We have no proven options for managing long-term radioactive waste – All reactors create waste, and this is a growing and unresolved global management issue. For decades successive governments have tried to impose low and intermediate level waste dumps and stores, predominantly on First Nations lands, across multiple sites in Australia.
We must leave the uranium in the ground to keep our communities and the nature we rely on safe.
Let's get it right and make Australia nuclear-free.
Header image: Sea lions gather on the beach on the Eyre Peninsula. At the top of the Peninsula is Kimba, where the government is proposing to put a national radioactive waste site despite unanimous opposition from Barngarla Traditional Owners
Latest Supporters
it’s dangerous, water-hungry, expensive, and we don’t have a good way to dispose of the waste. Why would we use nuclear energy when renenewable energy is here, now, unlimited, and so much safer??
I am against nuclear power because it is high-risk, high-cost utilises too much water and is a dangerous distraction from real climate solutions, like clean energy from the sun and wind
I want australia to be nuclear free because it will never be safe, there is toxic waste from it, and we have sun and wind for clean energy…
it’s pure greed!
I want Australia to be nuclear free because it is expensive and unsafe. We have lots of wind and solar and the focus should be on renewable. Our amazing scientists have now discovered a way to store energy- batteries!!
Nuclear is TOO SLOW, TOO EXPENSIVE, TOO DANGEROUS, TOO SLOW, TOO TOXIC.
Solar Wind & Batteries will give us 400% of a Nnuclear future at 15% of the cost,
Remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
NNN – nuclear not necessary
Hi
I want Australia to permanently ban nuclear power use. This ongoing ban should be enshrined so that our ban on nuclear power cannot be reversed on a turn of government!
Consistent with the application of ESD principles and intergenerational equity, I want Australia to avoid inflicting the issue of managing nuclear waste and decommissioning nuclear power stations on future generations. It’s expensive and no other country has come up with an appropriate response. Do we want wastelands like Chernobyl that will forever be off limits?
I have for most of my 80 years of age , believed that Australia should have invested in Nuclear Power a long time ago.
The fear of the past has been erased in recent times and should not be used at the present. Otherwise, we would never have accepted motor vehicles into our lives.
Australia will need nuclear Power to help with the next major problem, that is water distribution on a National scale.
I want Australia to have nuclear power because we need a cheap base energy supply with very low emissions to retain Australian manufacturing and our current standard of living.
I want Australia to have Nuclear as a base power because it is the only reliable base power to replace coal and is cheaper than renewables.
Because we already have so many accidents with nuclear power stations. Look the Japanese! We can’t afford anymore of this, our planet is damaged so badly
I have witnessed damage caused by exposing uranium in rum jungle Darwin. Central Australia. Immediate cease to devastating felling of beautiful native bushland & forests (eg connecting road b/t M1 Mirboo turnoff. To Mirboo North. Heartbreaking. Mining into the earth’s cote when we are abound with natural cost effective weather & vast landscapes for solar is tne direction we need to continue with.
I want Australia to be nuclear free because the answer is to modify our behaviours to use less energy, consume less and share more rather than find an answer to consume the same or more than we already do.
GOD-willing, our beloved planet and the living beings therein shall be fully protected from the ravages of over-pollution, hazardous chemicals, and corporate greed.
Nuclear is dangerous and unclean
In its mining & use. And radiation
Waste produced is not safe & I don’t want Australia to be a dumping ground for nuclear waste.
It’s reliable clean and sustainable and is the only energy for long term power