Australia must remain a nuclear-free country.
Nuclear energy and arms are not compatible with a clean future.
The Coalition's nuclear energy plan is light on detail but heavy with danger. 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 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. Promoting nuclear today will keep coal and gas burning for decades to come!
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
127 years since Henri Becquerel first binned radioactive waste and still not a single gram safely permanently stored anywhere by anyone.
UK and USA both without any permanent storage solution, except suckering Australia into AUKUS and using Australia as a dump. Labor say they won’t let that happen but, regardless of that fantasy, Dutton and his ilk will sprinkle it your cornflakes the moment they get in.
Nuclear reactor accidents still occur, renewables are cheaper and can come on line faster, and some forms such as closed loop pumped hydro can provide base and peak load any time. Nuclear power is not required in Australia, alternatives exist!
I want Australia nuclear free to omit fall out from a nuclear accident
I want Australia to be nuclear free country because I do not my grandchildren living under this threat. I was in Europe at the time of Chernobyl. I did not enjoy living under its threat!
It is not a secure safe energy source. Where do you storage the depleted uranium.
We have an abundance of sunshine, wind and other forms of alternative energy. We do not need costly nuclear and its waste.
There are much better options than nuclear power generation
I live in Adelaide and don’t want nuclear powered subs in my city
Nuclear is expensive and carries great risk.
Nuclear has been independently assessed, many, many times and has never been competitive or better than the burgeoning renewable energy sources. Not to mention the unavoidable and serious danger of fission waste which we have no way of storing or disposing of, safely. Nuclear fission is idiocy and should never be used as an energy source.
All nuclear funding should go towards the advancement of nuclear fusion, which is infinitely better and safer.
I want Australia to be nuclear free as TOO RISKY, costly, slow & renewables, NOT NUCLEAR. To the < Honourable – If any Ministers> (Esteemed- simile) Commonwealth Parliamentarians ; and the Professional Public Servants, whose valuable contributions assist: thank you for taking time to share my humble submission.
I want to be nuclear- free as Australian’s declared years ago – it still stands, rather then face emp strikes and have the concerns on reactors that other countries face – It won’t save us money it will cost us and our environment. Also note we present as a stronger country to the rest of the world without it .
I do not want nuclear power stations around our beautiful country and will not vote for any party that endorses the use of them.
Doesn’t make sense either financially or any other way. Don’t do it
Nuclear power generation is too costly, risky,, unnecessary in our wind and solar economy and way too slow for the climate emergency
I want a nuclear free Australia because I love our planet and there are so many many clean energy options
We don’t need nuclear. We have safe, clean and renewable options which cost less.
I want Australia to be nuclear free because we simply do not need it. It is unsafe and absurdly expensive and environmentally risky and costly. We simply need to invest increasingly in renewable and future-proofing energy systems, structures, workforces and technologies – all of which we can develop and also export. Let’s just do it.