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:
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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
A nuclear free Australia will be better and safer for the future of all Australians and others, humans and non-humans.
What do we do with the spent rods. Humans are not infallible, they make mistakes and radiation fallout is too great a risk.
Nuclear power is too little, too late and too expensive. We live in a country with the most abundant free energy in the world. Let’s use that.
I want a nuclear free Australia so my grandchildren don’t have to pay dearly for the mistakes our government make now. The concerns with the nuclear waste will be ongoing for generations to come. We have decimated our beautiful country, it’s waterways both above and below ground, for coal, minerals and gas, to the point of no return almost. These are not things we will have to face the full brunt of in our lifetime, though we are seeing and feeling the issues now. Our children’s children, followed by their own kin will reap the consequences of decisions being made now for the almighty $$$$$!
Somebody must have the moral compass to stand up for what is right for this land and ALL her people, now and in the future.
Please let it be You! You, who are making the decisions on behalf of Australia and her People!
Australia, unlike Europe has no need for nuclear power because of its unique position to harness solar power and wind owing to the land mass of the country and its abundance of resources that go hand in hand with producing renewable energy
I want Australia to be nuclear free because we have better renewable options for power that won’t create hazardous waste that will last for generations. No nuclear waste disposal can possibly be 100% safe, why risk it.
I want Australia to be nuclear free because it is dangerous,expensive and doesn’t make sense!
This is a dangerous technology and there is no way to safely dispose of the used material
We need to focus our investments on renewable technologies that can be scaled more quickly, that are safer, and that are truely renewable and climate-friendly (wind and solar). The coalition doesn’t care about climate, they are trying to win an election on lies.
I want power generation in Australia to be primarily based on renewable energy, and any consideration of augmentation of the power grid by nuclear energy to be carefully considered and fully costed inclusive of long-term nuclear waste storage, by a competent and truly independent authority. This must not be done for political purposes.
I would not want to commit my grandchildren and greatgrandchildren to oblivion.
We need to move to net zero now, not delay it further by keeping coal power stations going for many more years. We have put enough environmental problems on the shoulders of future generations; adding the problem of nuclear waste storage is unforgivable!
I want to keep Australia free of waste products being left in the ground for future generations to clean up the mess, if they can.
Too expensive, too slow, no legislation, no framework and toxic, toxic, toxic.