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
Australia needs to negotiate with neighbours in the region not threaten them. Australia needs the resources for education ad health not armament
The consequences of a disaster are not worth the benefits of nuclear energy. We have plenty of renewable options. The government should support those.
I want a future for our children and our planet….no nuclear!!!
Australia made the decision not to go with nuclear technology to power our homes and businesses decades ago. We do not have a trained and experienced work force or a willingness to store nuclear waste as no one wants it in their back yard. We need to get on with doing what we know we do well. Wind, solar and hydro!
Nuclear power is far too expensive and has led to electricity price rises in countries that have it – Switzerland for example is exporting its cheap hydropower and makes domestic users pay for the expensive nuclear energy. Easy to see the same happening here with cheap solar and batteries – and that’s not even mentioning the risks and costs of storing the spent fuel, or the devastation from uranium mining!
The world can do without it & the cost is too great. 3 mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima are enough examples, we don’t need more!
I want Australia to be nuclear free because the radioactive waste will hang around for up to 24,000 years.
Also will cost the taxpayer more then using green alternatives.
Cost approx 43 billion to build and takes 6 to 8 years to build a nuclear power station.
We already have cheaper and faster alternatives in green energy.
Nuclear power is too expensive, would take too long to implement in the climate crisis we have now and is too dangerous. Why go nuclear when we have excellent alternatives like Wind and Solar in Australia?
I want Australia to be nuclear-free to preserve our ecology and health. Nuclear reactors produce long-lasting toxic radioactive pollution and waste. This causes more cancers among other health issues and risks, no matter how advanced the nuclear technology is. We should develop alternative energy sources including better use and accumulation of solar energy.