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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
I want Australia to be nuclear free because nuclear power is high risk and high cost, and radioactive waste is extremely difficult to manage and dispose of safely.
I want Australia to be Nuclear Free because my father was in the Occupational forces in Japan in1946 Stationed at Hiroshima and died aged 69.
I want Austrlia to be nuclear free because it is DEADLY to Australuans and the rest of the planet. 10,000 years of lethal waste is a bizarre outcome for a short term problem. We can use renewables, we have the technonogy.
we want to remove the risk of mutually assured destruction
Wind & Solar power are already giving us the Energy needed – we certainly Don’t Want Nuclear’s filthy detrimental trailings polluting our rivers & toxifying our soils for decades 2 come Brainer Gov. So called Democracy??
From the beginning of Australia wanting to use Uranium and export Uranium I have always thought it was such a risky thing to do.
The disposal of the end product (nuclear waste) is appalling when it remains such a risk to all life.
I stand, along with many clear thinking people, for a ban on all Uranium mining, exports, nuclear power, weapons, disposal etc.
Use real climate solutions.
A Nuclear free Australia is the best choice for us to be.
It does not make sense to choose Uranium.
There are way too many nuclear weapons and chemicals being used in the many wars that have been going on for years and years that result in birth defects and long lasting damage to our planet.
Toxic nuclear tailings dam failure due to rain events occur at every uranium mine ever!
Wind borne radiation contamination applies to all nuclear tests as well as nuclear plant meltdowns.
Most nuclear plants are on major rivers.
France has seven closed nuclear plants. France’s second major river no longer flows.
Bob Hawke’s rationale was "if Ausralia didn’t supply fissile
U-235 Africa would". No mention of end waste being the suppliers responsibility. Nor any mention of the abandoned Northern Territory’s Rum Jungle uranium mine’s continuing toxic contamination.
How many know the British conducted multiple nuclear tests at Montebella lslands off Western Australia as well as Emu Field and Maralinga in South Australia between 1952 and 1963. That the extent of contamination at Maraliga wasn’t recognised untill 1984 pending it’s proposed return to it’s Aboriginal owners ?
Who knows where the actual site is of the cleanup scrapings of Maralinga, that they were still in interim storage in 2019?
Let alone 3 Mile Island, Chernobyl or Fukushima nuclear plants leaked contaminants.
How many people know 3 Mile lsland is in the U.S.A. or Chernobyl is in Ukraine?
How many are aware of Australia’s abandoned uranium mine’s location, the extent of it’s ongoing leaching of toxins?
So it goes
To expensive/The waste is very Toxic & lasts forever
I believe the uranium industry to be an unsafe and dangerous industry.
I want to keep Australia nuclear free
All things nuclear = Death + word-wide extinction of everything that lives.
There is NOTHING to debate here !!!