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
I want Australia to be nuclear free at this time because we need to use renewable to effect climate control NOW, not in 30yrs or so. In case of nuclear disaster, the consequences are horrendous and there not sufficient safeguards.
I want Aistralia to be nuclear free because of potential health risks and not wanting to contaminate the earth with nuclear waste. It is critical that we use clean renewable energy in the future!
We don’t want it. No one wants it.
I want to keep Australia free of nuclear energy, because it can be dangerous ,it is hard to get rid properly of the residues and because we have enough wind and sun to generate clean energy.
I say no to nuclear energy, so nuclear waste won’t be anyone’s problem in the future!
Investment in renewable energy makes sense for us now, and for future generations. It’s clean, affordable and available right now. Investment can bring new jobs to ensure a thriving industry. Nuclear is dangerous and expensive – a political stunt that threatens our future.
Why take the risk for 3 or 4% of Australia’s power production!
Please reconsider, there are better ways.
Energy without poison possibilities use what we have it the energy of the sun
It appears as if the Liberal and National Handout Party are fooling themselves on Nuclear.
We in australia have bravely refused nuclear industries and waste, and our stand continues. Our children and future generations would inherit a nuclear future, of fear, risk, and eternal obligatory guardianship of lethal toxins throughout all foreseeable history. No other country is stupid or greedy enough to accept world nuclear wastes for disposal – even Finland’s contribution is tiny (2300 tonnes of a world stockpile of 250,000+ tonnes.) Aukus obliges us to ‘dispose’ of high-level radioactive waste from about 90 submarines (US and UK included)
There are other free unlimited scalar zero point energy devices which can run Australia, they have been bought up by the oil companies and shelved. We dont need nuclear, we need revolution.
What are you going to do with the waste