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
When will the opposition accept that they created the current issues by being in bed with the coal industry for the last two decades. Their ‘friend’!
Renewables are the better way to go for environmental and economic reasons. We have said no to nuclear in the past and we need to keep saying it and focus all our efforts and investments in renewables for which we have an abundance.
I want Australia to be nuclear free because there are more effective climate solutions which are immediately scalable, and not an excuse for Dutton to keep pandering to fossil fuel and gas companies for decades to come. Further, nuclear has very low tolerances/margins for error and is exceptionally high risk. It also requires great expertise – skills Australia does not have.
Not only is the Cost going to be extreme. We still have to get rid of the Waste which no one Seems to be talking about. What do we do just bury it and let our children and future generations deal with the problems Down the line very short sighted Have we forgotten so quickly what happened in Japan and Russia. I can’t believe they are even Contemplating this
I want Australia to remain nuclear-free because the nuclear option is a huge user of precious water resources, any construction uses up more valuable resources, fuel needs to be extracted, trucked to sire then disposed of afterwards, and if things go wrong it’s a potential disaster. We are the luckiest country in the world for natural power sources – wind, solar, wave, etc. so nuclear if unneccessary and dangerous.
We do not need nuclear! Haven’t we learnt from disasters caused by nuclear? It is not safe, it is not clean, it is not good for the environment. So many better options out there!
Just why?
No Means No. You would think?!
Does anyone recall the past conversation??
What’s better than natural resources??
There are far better alternatives to the poisoning of our land, water animals and people!
Cheaper energy prices seem like a poor excuse.
Take the cheapest alternative and pay the biggest price.
Our community deserves better than this!
Sling mud back and forth for what? Entertainment of others!
How does anyone justify this proposal?
If it’s such a good idea why hasn’t Dutton offered his backyard for this proposal?
Disgusting to think about this country’s ideology of caring for country is to rape, scrap and poison it.
South Australia’s majority is NO people so why change the record now??
We have such a huge natural resource in the sun and wind, which can both be harnessed for power. Why do we have to use nuclear power with toxic waste which no one wants in their back yard and doesn’t break down in lifetimes!!
Nuclear is too costly, too slow to develop and its lifespan is too short. The waste is a permanent problem- and not reusable or recyclable. Development now is also too late if we want to progress action to reduce climate impacts maximally in the shortest terms.
I want Australia to be Nuclear free because this is just a giant political distraction from getting on and committing to rolling out real renewable energy. It gives the LNP an excuse to keep Coal burning here and rolling out more Gas plants.
Why nuclear when renewables are already being built and are cheaper
We have a huge capability for renewable energy-we don’t need expensive and risky options to look after Duttons coal and gas mates!!
Have people forgotten that Maralinga, in Australia, remains uninhabitable after British nuclear tests – despite being closed in 1967 and despite two failed clean-up operations? Have we forgotten that 12 years after Fukushima’s nuclear power plant melt-down, its 3 core reactors still need to be cooled by pumping cold water over them – resulting in *130 tonnes of contaminated water being released into the ocean DAILY. Still. Every day.
Why would anyone be foolish enough to think that nuclear power is ‘safe’?
Do people really think “yes, but that won’t happen to me.”…..???
We need australia to be nuclear free to live happy and healthy life like every other generation got to have. why should our young generation have to live through hell just for the rich to get richer i hate this world enough and you wanna make it worse?
We have so much wind and sun. There is no need for nuclear.