Nuclear waste dump debate heating up over AUKUS, Coalition plans

Australia’s AUKUS agreement with the US and UK will pave the way for nuclear submarines – and nuclear waste.

People participate in a protest in objection to the nuclear waste dump at Kimba, outside the Federal Court of Australia in Adelaide, Monday, March 6, 2023. Barngarla Traditional Owners begin their hearing in the Federal Court to oppose a planned federal radioactive waste dump at Kimba. (AAP Image/Matt Turner) Credit: MATT TURNER/AAPIMAGE

But some experts say the government has not learned the lessons of three past attempts to deal with that material.

for now, much of Australia’s nuclear waste is stored near the nation’s only reactor at Lucas Heights in south-west Sydney, which is mostly used to make medicine, mining materials, and for research.

Low-level waste is also being stored in hundreds of cupboards, labs and hospitals nationally.

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