Nuclear power is a dangerous distraction from the urgent need to transition to renewable energy in response to the worsening climate crisis. The Federal Coalition’s nuclear energy policy abandons the Paris Agreement to reach net zero, undermines the urgent transition to renewables and prolongs the reliance on fossil fuels. The proposal threatens to force nuclear power on unwilling states, territories, and communities, in some cases seeking to override state prohibitions on nuclear power. It is irresponsible, creates uncertainty for investors and is not a credible or feasible response to the climate emergency.

West Australians have said no to nuclear power time and time again. In response to this dangerous and irresponsible plan, our organisations reaffirm our opposition to nuclear power, opposition which is both backed by the community and informed by science and economics. We oppose nuclear power because:

It is expensive - nuclear power is the most capital-intensive way to produce electricity, costs of construction, managing radioactive waste and decommissioning continue to rise. Also nuclear power risks incurring the unpredictable and potentially prohibitive costs of cleaning up accidents which, despite ‘best practice’ reassurances, continue to happen around the world.

It is dirty and dangerous - nuclear power produces long-lived radioactive waste that poses risks to human and environmental health for thousands of years, creating a forever burden on future generations. Despite decades of nuclear reactors operating in some countries, there is not a single permanent repository for the highly radioactive waste that they create. The Coalition has not identified where this waste would be stored in Australia. Nuclear power relies on uranium mining which causes significant adverse environmental impacts; puts workers and communities at risk; and leaves behind hazardous radioactive tailings. In a changing climate, nuclear safety becomes more and more tenuous, risking more frequent shutdowns in response to water issues - whether by flooding or water shortages, or discharge issues and other environmental factors.

It is thirsty - nuclear power consumes large volumes of precious water, at all stages from uranium mining and processing through to reactor cooling. Collie does not have sufficient water resources to meet the cooling needs for nuclear.

It disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities - the nuclear industry disproportionately impacts First Nations, lower socio-economic communities, women and children. Uranium mining, the legacy of weapons testing and nuclear waste dumping, impacts and threatens some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Radiation exposure also poses a great risk to some of the most vulnerable in our community including children, pregnant women and people with underlying health issues.

It has a long history of First Nations opposition - nuclear power has been staunchly resisted by First Nations peoples for decades. All lands across the continent are stolen First Nations lands, and we oppose the colonial misconception that nuclear projects (whether it is uranium mining, nuclear waste dumps or nuclear weapons testing) happen ‘far away’ or on ‘unoccupied lands’. We will not allow nuclear to create more sacrifice zones.

It is too slow - nuclear power plants are infamously slow to build and license, and even slower to become a net electricity contributor. Globally, reactors routinely take a decade or longer to construct and time overruns are common. Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and other ‘new generation’ nuclear reactors are not commercially available and are unlikely to be so in the time frame outlined by the Coalition. Any nuclear policy is therefore a life extension for the fossil fuel industry.

It is a security risk - nuclear plants have been described as ‘pre-deployed terrorist targets’ and pose a major national security threat. The links between the military and civilian nuclear sectors also raises weapons proliferation and security concerns.

Nuclear power is not carbon neutral - There is no such thing as zero emissions nuclear power. Emissions from nuclear power are lower than fossil fuels, but much higher than renewable energy when the nuclear plant’s life cycle are considered. Almost every stage of the nuclear chain requires additional non-nuclear energy inputs. As uranium ore grades decline, the sector’s carbon footprint will continue to increase; and the transport of materials and the ongoing management of nuclear waste are also highly energy intensive.

Nuclear is just not suitable for the WA grid - Nuclear is not flexible and relies on a steady high continual output of energy. It is slow and expensive to turn off and on and is incompatible with intermittent renewable energy. Our energy system needs greater flexibility not nuclear.

Our shared energy future is renewable, not radioactive.

• Australian Youth Climate Coalition
• Conservation Council WA
• Friends of Australian Rock Art
• Greenpeace
• Nuclear Free WA
• Sustainable Energy Now