As Australia considers the future of nuclear power, it's essential that we must first solve the problem of nuclear waste management. To date, only one or two countries in the free world have successfully addressed this challenge. Before we even begin planning nuclear power stations, we must ensure that a robust and community-accepted solution for nuclear waste is in place—especially with the impending need to manage waste from Australia's ordered nuclear submarines.

The most significant hurdle in this process is gaining community consent, particularly from those living near proposed waste storage sites. Without this consent, any plans for nuclear power will likely face costly delays and opposition, wasting both time and money. Australia has not yet solved nuclear waste management even for clinical and low-radiation waste, making it clear that we need to tackle this issue head-on before proceeding with any new nuclear projects.

This initiative aims to prioritize responsible nuclear waste management as the first step. If we cannot secure community agreement on waste management, we should not proceed with planning nuclear power stations. Join us in the CoActNet Project Hub to collaborate on developing sustainable strategies that prioritize safety, environmental stewardship, and public trust.