Keep SA Nuclear Free & Say No to AUKUS

AUKUS is a dud deal. It ties us to the US and Donald Trump in increasingly hostile world politics. While South Australians are desperate for cost-of-living relief, Labor are wasting billions of dollars on nuclear submarines when we could instead fund healthcare, education and housing.. 

The US is reviewing whether to scrap AUKUS, while Labor are spending millions of public dollars just in case it goes ahead. They’ve also been passing legislation to override existing laws that will enable them to fast-track AUKUS related developments.

In the new term of parliament, the Greens will undertake an inquiry into South Australia’s involvement in this project, and we’ll oppose every move the government make to legislate for AUKUS. 

Future generations must not be burdened with toxic nuclear waste for which there is no safe disposal. The Federal Government have passed legislation that override South Australia’s laws that prohibit nuclear waste in our state. 

The burden of nuclear waste storage is disproportionately borne by First Nations people, and most recently the Barngarla traditional owners won a legal battle to prevent a nuclear waste facility proposed by the Federal Government¹. 

We should strive to be free of nuclear weapons and the nuclear fuel chain. Nuclear accidents pose unacceptable risks for humans and the environment. There is no effective way to address nuclear disaster, therefore nuclear weapons should be eliminated, and nuclear energy production should be phased out.

At a state level, the Greens will continue to put pressure on the Government to keep SA nuclear free by opposing all parts of the supply chain in our state, especially where it relates to the highly populated areas around Osborne.

^{1. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-18/federal-court-kimba-nuclear-waste-barngarla-decision/102613126}

The defence industry has found its way into our state institutions through sponsorships and programs run in primary schools, high schools and universities.

Universities should be places that advance the public good, not help dirty industries profit from human misery. Adelaide University partners with 40 defence organisations², some of whom supply parts for weapons that are aiding the genocide in Palestine³. Over the last 10 years, South Australian universities have received over $1.5 million from the United States Department of Defence⁴.

Last year, across the country, over 6,000 students in 15 universities voted overwhelmingly in favour of divestment. Universities and schools should disclose and divest from dirty industries like weapons, gambling and fossil fuels. There is no place for these industries in our universities.

At the same time, public schools are increasingly receiving partnership money from defence organisations such as BAE systems to run programs that lead to defence careers⁵.

The Greens will introduce legislation that requires universities and public schools to disclose and divest from any partnerships with dirty industries, including weapons manufacturers, gambling, fossil fuel and tobacco companies.

^{2.  Obtained by FOI}

^{3. Three of the organisations obtained through FOI are on a list published by the UN as aiding the invasion of Palestine: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/06/states-and-companies-must-end-arms-transfers-israel-immediately-or-risk} 

^{4.  https://www.usaspending.gov/search?hash=f71e33ee955acd6a769d28a93bbc5f73}

^{5. https://www.lefevrehs.sa.edu.au/maritime-high-school-programs/}