Media Release 22/07/24

No to Nuclear

Communities at proposed nuclear sites launch joint Campaign against
Dutton’s “half baked Idea”

Community organisations from the seven regional communities where Peter Dutton proposes to house
nuclear reactors today launch a regional community alliance and a joint campaign to say NO to nuclear.
“Without asking our communities, Peter Dutton has arrogantly announced that we will house nuclear
reactors in our regions,” said Wendy Farmer of Voices of the Valley from Latrobe Valley, Victoria.
Peter Dutton announced the half baked idea without giving a plan, David Littleproud and Ted O'Brien
both flagged two and a half years of local community consultation. Mr Littleproud said, “We would start
the two and a half year consultation process with those communities to make sure they understood". Mr
O’Brien added he did not expect the communities were likely to oppose, but they would not be given the
opportunity to veto.
He hasn’t consulted farmers or families, elders or economists – or even the owners of the sites he has
announced. It just doesn’t make sense, especially when substantial investment opportunities for
renewable energy already exist in our regions.
“Our communities are thousands of kilometres apart but we are standing together because we won’t be
bullied into housing nuclear reactors.” said Wendy Farmer.
Community groups representing thousands of members across the regions where Mr Dutton proposes
nuclear reactors are working together since the announcement. Today they’re launching a joint petition,
addressed to Peter Dutton and all members of the Coalition to say NO to nuclear reactors in their regions
and across Australia. In addition, the alliance is asking Australians around the country to support them
and sign the petition, saying No to nuclear reactors in the regions and across Australia. In Peter
Dutton’s own words “If you don’t know, say NO.”

The petition is hosted at www.nonukes.com.au

“We have a cost of living crisis right now,” said Robyn Wood, spokesperson for Don’t Nuke Port Augusta.

“We need affordable clean energy quickly through a rollout of renewable energy, not an expensive
half-baked nuclear fantasy. Our future is in renewable energy.”
“Mr Dutton can’t tell us how much it would cost, what it would mean for our power bills, how and where
nuclear waste could be safely stored for 10,000 years,” said Marianne Robinson from the Latrobe Valley.
“Japan, Brazil, USA, Russia and the UK have all had significant nuclear safety disasters and our
communities don’t want to be next.”
“Our communities are not the fools Mr Dutton seems to think we are,” said Julie Favell, from Lithgow
Environment Group.“We have a cost of living crisis right now,” said Robyn Wood, spokesperson for Don’t Nuke Port Augusta.
“We need affordable clean energy quickly through a rollout of renewable energy, not an expensive
half-baked nuclear fantasy. Our future is in renewable energy.”
“Mr Dutton can’t tell us how much it would cost, what it would mean for our power bills, how and where
nuclear waste could be safely stored for 10,000 years,” said Marianne Robinson from the Latrobe Valley.
“Japan, Brazil, USA, Russia and the UK have all had significant nuclear safety disasters and our
communities don’t want to be next.”
“Our communities are not the fools Mr Dutton seems to think we are,” said Julie Favell, from Lithgow
Environment Group.