26 January 2025

The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) does not support the establishment of a nuclear power industry in Australia. We condemn the irresponsible moves by the federal Coalition to promote nuclear power as a response to the climate emergency. As representatives of the communities most directly impacted by the Australian nuclear industry across generations, we utterly reject this approach.

Since 1997, ANFA has been part of a strong history of Aboriginal resistance to the nuclear industry. Aboriginal-led campaigns in Australia have seen uranium mining projects halted and plans for a radioactive waste dump frustrated and stalled. The nuclear industry continues to target First Nation people’s land for poisonous projects and Aboriginal people continue to resist.

We have long memories; we remember the atomic weapons test at Maralinga, Monte Bello and Emu Fields. There has been no justice following these weapons testing programs despite the deep adverse impact on human health and cultural connection. We remember the broken promises from uranium miners, the accidents, the leaks and the changes to our different Countries.

Many people have passed away, great people who spent too much of their lives having to fight to protect their Country. We remember and honour them and their love for Country and community.

The nuclear industry and the government keep ignoring and dismissing the cost of this industry. We wonder who is going to count the loss of lives in the future to come, the cancers and sickness and the lands that have been polluted?

Nuclear activities in Australia provide many examples of both historic injustices and current threats to human rights and self-determination principles. ANFA members’ lived experience has been characterised by limited or no inclusion in consultation and approval processes, highly constrained or non-existent project veto rights and systemic and profound imbalances in resources, capacity, institutional support and access to information and decision shapers and makers.

We acknowledge that Australia faces energy challenges and urge the government to transition away from dirty, polluting industries that impact on the homelands and culture of First Nations peoples. Nuclear power would create more problems than it would solve and major impacts would be on the lands of Aboriginal people.

“How we are going to meet our climate emissions target if hundreds of billions of dollars goes towards nuclear power, not real climate solutions…It is going to affect our people, our country, our animals and the environment in general.” 

‒ ANFA co-chair Vicki Abdullah-McCabe

Australia’s energy future is not a choice between coal and nuclear. Choosing nuclear power would take away huge amounts of money from the current trajectory towards renewable energy.  We have abundant sun and wind and urge the government to continue the pathway to cleaner and safer options than nuclear power in our national transition to a better energy supply in proper and sincere consultation with local communities and Traditional Custodians.

 “A message to the people who are saying that nuclear power is the way forward:think about the waste, think about your children, think about your grand-children. You make decisions today that will affect the next generations for 100,000 years to come.

Look towards a better brighter future, and it’s not nuclear power. That’s not the future. That’s death.”

‒ ANFA President, Aunty Sue Coleman-Haseldine.

ANFA reaffirms that human wellbeing is more important than private profit. We reject the destruction, pain and ongoing risks caused by the nuclear industry, including the impacts of radiation on health, the negative impacts of legacy uranium mines and nuclear tests, the need for improved rehabilitation of impacted sites and we restate steadfast opposition to nuclear waste dumping.

We must protect communities, Country, water, sacred sites and our animal kin
WE say NO to nuclear risks and damage