Nukunu Country August 29-31, 2025

Over the last weekend of August the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) held a national gathering in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.

ANFA is a network of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and groups connected by concern and action about nuclear threats. Over its 28 years, ANFA has played a big part in many important campaigns to stop nuclear projects across Australia. 

This year’s meeting included participants from many communities. Other members of ANFA followed and joined from afar, such as representatives from the Mirarr (Northern Territory) and Urpuli Urpuli and Tjiwarl (Western Australia). 

The stories of lived experience shared in the meeting highlighted the long lasting, intergenerational impacts and the sense of loss resulting from unwanted nuclear projects. These projects whether uranium mining, proposed waste dumps or the ongoing effects of nuclear weapons testing leave a toxic legacy for hundreds of thousands of years. Even if the proposed projects do not go ahead, the process often divides communities and families in very painful ways. The meeting recognised that the history of nuclear weapons testing at Emu Fields and Maralinga as well as the presence of the biggest uranium mine in the country makes South Australia the nation’s nuclear crime scene. If uranium is not contributing to nuclear weapons it is always contributing to nuclear waste. 

The meeting called on the Australian Government and state leaders to respect the right to free prior and informed consent, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, for any project proposed on their lands. ANFA supports the Nuclear Truth Project’s protocols in any engagement by government, companies or organisations.

Meeting participant and Adnyamathanha Kuyani woman Reverend Denise Champion summed it up: “If we tell them we don’t want it, they can’t claim to have our free prior and informed consent. First Nations need to stand together and say NO.”

Walmumpa woman Dianne Stokes talked about the successful fight to stop the Muckaty nuclear waste dump and encouraged members to: “Sing your traditional songs, dance in the traditional way, be in culture. We are strong. We can do it.” 

The meeting celebrated Australia’s strong and clear rejection of nuclear power at this year’s federal election and acknowledged the important role of the communities at the selected reactor sites.

ANFA has deep concerns over proposed mining developments in northern South Australia. ANFA demands that extraction of fossil water from the Great Artesian Basin by mining companies must stop. If public money is spent on a proposed SA desalination project any pipelines supplying water to extractive companies must be paid for by the companies and not the taxpayers.  

Adnyamathanha Kuyani Elder Regina McKenzie reminded us that: “We are the custodians, the guardians of the land that feeds us”

ANFA has deep connections with communities in many parts of the world. The meeting heard messages from friends resisting uranium mining in the south west of the USA, survivors of nuclear weapons testing in the Marshall Islands and representatives of Peace Boat. The meeting reaffirmed strong opposition to Australia’s AUKUS plans and the importance of adhering to the SA Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Act. 

The meeting reiterated calls for the Australian government to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and restated the need for improved monitoring of and support for addressing health issues associated with nuclear projects. 

The meeting discussed the importance of elevating First Nations and nuclear-free stories at COP31 and called on the SA and federal governments to ensure access at the forum, and for the national NAIDOC committee to consider a Calling Our People COP 31 theme.

ANFA reaffirmed its opposition to all uranium projects, and sent strong support to the community resisting the commercial development of the Mulga Rock deposit (WA). 

ANFA celebrated the sustained and successful intergenerational resistance of network members and continuing efforts to build a nuclear free future.

————————-

Communities represented: Adnyamathanha, Googatha, Ngemba, Yallata, Mirning, Oak Valley, Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Arabunna, Kuyani, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara, Walmumpa, Tjiwarl, Kaurni

Organisations represented: SA Voice to Parliament, Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Friends of the Earth, Australian Conservation Foundation, Nuclear Truth Project, Don’t Nuke the Climate, Port Adelaide Community Opposing AUKUS, Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, Medical Association for the Prevention of War