"As people from all across Australia, we call on the federal government and Resources Minister Madeleine King to stop the double-handling and relocation of radioactive waste to a highly contested regional facility proposed near Kimba in regional South Australia.
The Intermediate Level Waste should remain where it is securely stored at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation's Lucas Heights facility, pending the outcome of an open review of future management options to identify a credible long-term solution. It's time for us to advance responsible waste management that keeps communities and nature safe."
The Morrison Government committed to a deeply flawed national plan to dump radioactive waste in one of our regional communities – near the town of Kimba in South Australia.
Radioactive waste risks our air, soil and water. It damages the genetic and reproductive systems of plants, animals and people. And this waste lasts for up to ten thousand years.
Our communities should not face such an intergenerational burden, especially when most have not had a say and the Barngarla Native Title holders are explicitly opposed to the plan.
95% of Australia’s most serious radioactive waste is currently managed at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANSTO) Lucas Heights site in southern Sydney.
This is the best place to store our worst waste until a lasting solution is adopted.
Storing the waste in a regional community, and double handling it is unnecessary and irresponsible – especially as our federal nuclear regulator has confirmed it can be safely stored at ANSTO ‘for decades to come’.
As well as lacking a clear rationale, the federal plan inherited from the Morrison government is also deficient in relation to community consultation and consent Barngarla Traditional Owners were excluded from a Kimba community ballot, and communities across South Australia and along potential transport corridors have not had a say in the plan.
Instead, let's call on the Minister to embrace evidence-based, responsible waste management.
Sign the open letter now asking Resources Minister Madeleine King to keep the radioactive waste securely stored at the best place until we adopt a credible and evidence-based approach to long-term waste management.