Radioactive AUKUS submarines risk community health
Under the new AUKUS deal, Australia will import nuclear submarine technology from the US and UK – opening the flood gates for Australia going full-scale nuclear.1
And there's no plan for how the Albanese Government would store the radioactive waste – or which communities would have to accept risks to their health, land and water for generations.
First Nations communities have led the fight against nuclear across the continent for decades – and are not backing down. We need to back in Traditional Owners and build a movement big enough to stop this disastrous deal threatening our communities.
And there's no plan for how the Albanese Government would store the radioactive waste – or which communities would have to accept risks to their health, land and water for generations.
First Nations communities have led the fight against nuclear across the continent for decades – and are not backing down. We need to back in Traditional Owners and build a movement big enough to stop this disastrous deal threatening our communities.
Nuclear submarines would be a disaster for community health, land and water.
The AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement would cost $368 billion in public money – and is far from a done deal.2
The United States Congress has still not approved it. And the Albanese Government has a lot of work to do to create the legal, regulatory and social conditions to deal with radioactive nuclear waste.
Cuurently, there's no plan for how the radioactive waste would be stored – or which communities would have to accept risks to their health, land and water for generations.
This gives our movement an opportunity to change the narrative, and win.
Together we can back in First Nations communities protecting Country from risky nuclear and advocate for alternative uses of this public money.
The AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement would cost $368 billion in public money – and is far from a done deal.2
The United States Congress has still not approved it. And the Albanese Government has a lot of work to do to create the legal, regulatory and social conditions to deal with radioactive nuclear waste.
Cuurently, there's no plan for how the radioactive waste would be stored – or which communities would have to accept risks to their health, land and water for generations.
This gives our movement an opportunity to change the narrative, and win.
Together we can back in First Nations communities protecting Country from risky nuclear and advocate for alternative uses of this public money.
First Nations communities have led decades of resistance to radioactive waste and uranium mining, necessary for nuclear reactors and submarines.
Mirrar Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory led the national campaign to stop the Jabiluka uranium mine on their Country — successfully protecting cultural heritage, community health and their right to say no.3 And they're still fending off dangerous uranium mine proposals on their land.4
Last year, Barngarla Traditional Owners in South Australia won an eight year fight against a radioactive nuclear waste dump that would have had disastrous consequences for community health, land and water.5
Together we can back in Traditional Owners and come together for a nuclear-free Australia to protect all of our communities.
Mirrar Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory led the national campaign to stop the Jabiluka uranium mine on their Country — successfully protecting cultural heritage, community health and their right to say no.3 And they're still fending off dangerous uranium mine proposals on their land.4
Last year, Barngarla Traditional Owners in South Australia won an eight year fight against a radioactive nuclear waste dump that would have had disastrous consequences for community health, land and water.5
Together we can back in Traditional Owners and come together for a nuclear-free Australia to protect all of our communities.
Thanks to public pressure, Australia will not be able to accept radioactive waste from the US and UK under the AUKUS submarine deal.6
Over 4,000 GetUp members contacted Defence Minister Richard Marles, sharing personal stories to urge him to close this dangerous loophole.
And the Albanese Government showed they're listening, amending the legislation.
This is a critical win – and shows that our movement is powerful. Without action from GetUp members and our allies, the law would have opened the door for a future government to saddle communities with toxic waste from overseas.
But we know that the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal is still bad news for our communities. There is no plan for how the government will deal with radioactive waste from the nuclear submarines Australia will acquire.
Will you sign and the petition to say no to risky nuclear submarines?
[1] Australia makes undisclosed 'political commitments' in new AUKUS deal on transfer of naval nuclear technology, ABC News, 9 August 2023.
[2] See reference 1.
[3] Fifteen Years on and still no mine at Jabiluka, Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, 19 May 2013.
[4] 'Walk away': Traditional Owners defend Kakadu against a new push from uranium miners, The Guardian, 9 October 2022.
[5] Traditional owners win court case to stop nuclear waste dump in South Australia, The Guardian, 18 July 2023.
[6] Labor to close AUKUS loophole on nuclear waste, The Guardian, 11 September 2024.
[2] See reference 1.
[3] Fifteen Years on and still no mine at Jabiluka, Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, 19 May 2013.
[4] 'Walk away': Traditional Owners defend Kakadu against a new push from uranium miners, The Guardian, 9 October 2022.
[5] Traditional owners win court case to stop nuclear waste dump in South Australia, The Guardian, 18 July 2023.
[6] Labor to close AUKUS loophole on nuclear waste, The Guardian, 11 September 2024.
SIGN: STAND AGAINST AUKUS NUCLEAR SUBS!
To Prime Minister Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong,
Traditional Owners have led decades of resistance to nuclear, which risks community health and Country.
We urge you to stand with First Nation communities and redirect AUKUS funding into housing, healthcare and clean renewable energy.
Invest in the public good and everyday people, not nuclear submarines.
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