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
Too expensive, cradle to grave.
I want Australia to be nuclear free because anything else is a nonsense. Why introduce further poison into our country when it’s been proven nuclear will not be helpful with our wonderful planet heading for disaster?
I want Australia to be nuclear-free because renewable energy options like solar and wind are safer, more sustainable, and better aligned with protecting our environment and future generations.
I want Australia to be nuclear free as it will be too dangerous, too costly and too late. The proponents of this energy plan have also based it on highly unlikely assumptions. Eg, that Australia will use less electricity in future, when we are continually increasing our consumption, and that Australians will reduce their uptake of solar energy, which is saving them money now, as well as reducing emissions. There is also the problem of nuclear waste to consider. The emissions from the construction of nuclear power plants and their de-commissioning also means that they are not zero emissions technology.
Australia has a wealth of renewable energy options available and doesn’t need the cost and uncertainty of nuclear in its energy mix. Nuclear would just saddle future generations with unnecessary costs and risks associated with the nuclear fuel cycle.
There is no future in nuclear, it’s just a plan for more fossil fuels.
Why are we even talking about this new form of polluting energy-we want to get away from energy that has a long term cost to the planet.
Nuclear is not what I believe in, its very very dangerous and costly.. I believe tax payers should have the right to have funded money for everyone to have solar and especially battery reduction for electricity.. @ 50%.
That our Government should buy back our Electricity rights as it owned it in the 1970’s. We make the electricity in Khancoben NSW. This is our own company NOT
anything to do with “selling off “ any power should be left to the vote of the people as democracy demands. That includes selling off our housing commission flats sneakily behind the public backs. ALL Australians should have a say in housing as well.
why let the bank run the country? Why let Government officials that have less than a masters degree in their portfolio become the Minister? This is just unbelievable. Im not allowed to do my job without first getting qualified.
I want Australia to be nuclear free because renewables are the way to go, not dangerous nuclear methods.
I don’t want nuclear power because It’s not clean energy what do you do with the waste
I want Australia to remain nuclear free because it takes too long to build, we have no experience in nuclear power, no long long term nuclear waste management options, and its too expensive compared to renewables.
The idea that nuclear energy is suitable for Australia has not been accepted by scientists specialising in nuclear energy production and the problems of construction and dealing with the disposal and contamination of spent radioactive waste for ever .
No solution to waste storage and far too expensive!