There is a lot going on with nuclear issues at the moment, thanks for taking the time to read our update.
Firstly, We send our solidarity to all supporters who are dealing with the challenges of life under lockdown, taking part in the Black Lives Matters movement, coping with the extra care duties of kids home from school and working to maintain good mental health through it all.
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EBPC Act review
The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act review released an interim report that
stated that the Commonwealth should maintain the capacity to intervene in uranium mining and made no recommendation to change existing prohibitions on nuclear activities, including domestic nuclear power. We cautiously welcome the recommendations of the review, but still hold concerns about devolving federal approvals to state level - a process that was seen environmental protections watered down in the past. Add your voice to calls to strengthen Australia's environmental laws here. Don't Nuke The Climate Website
Nuclear waste dump update
The Federal government is pressing ahead with their plan to force a nuclear waste dump on an unwilling community at Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia.
These developments include:
- Since the passing in Australian Parliament's lower house of the National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment Bill, the Senate Inquiry continues to look into implications of this legislation that names Napandee at Kimba as the site for Australia's national nuclear waste dump and removes Traditional Owners rights to challenge that decision.
- In a cynical and undemocratic move, Federal resources minister Keith Pitt announced that a new 'Australian Radioactive Waste Agency' will be established and located in Adelaide. We are calling on SA Premier Marshall to uphold SA law that prohibits a nuclear waste dump in that state. You can add your voice here.
Olympic Dam Uranium mine expansion
Scott Morrison announced that the Olympic Dam expansion will be fast-tracked as part of the Federal government's covid response. This water intensive expansion threats the lives of workers and local communities, tramples on the rights of Traditional Owners and would cause irreparable damage to the surrounding lands. ACE Nuclear Free collective is supporting the work of independent nuclear campaigner David Noonan to investigate and expose the dangers of the expansion, you can hear an interview with David about the expansion on this Radioactive Show podcast.
Victorian Inquiry into Nuclear Prohibition
On 26th June, Jim Green presented to the Victorian Government's Inquiry into Nuclear Prohibition, alongside ACF's Nuclear-Free Campaigner Dave Sweeney. A transcript of the presentation is available on the Inquiry's website
here.
ACE Nuclear Free Collective and BUMP unite!
Our ACE Nuclear Free Narrm/Melbourne collective had the great pleasure of joining with Boorloo/Perth's collective of radical nuclear free organisers - the BUMP collective - for an online meeting to learn about what they have been doing in WA and share our challenges and successes from over east. BUMP has been busy organising a webinar series on nuclear issues - the next one is on Uranium and nuclear weapons, check out the facebook event
here.
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