Building awareness against AUKUS

Saturday, 23 March 2024 - 10:00am to 10:30am

It’s been a year since the Australian government unveiled its AUKUS military pact with the US and the UK that will see it acquire nuclear-powered submarines, forecast to cost up to AU$368 billion. It's a deal that poses serious threat to regional and global health and security, runs counter to our commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and brings us closer to nuclear weapons capability.  

The 14th March saw the start of a week of actions against AUKUS all across the continent and the Radioactive Show travelled to Mt. Keira on Wadi Wadi Lands in Wollongong to the meeting of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) a grassroots alliance that has brought together Aboriginal people and civil society groups concerned about existing or proposed nuclear developments in 'so called' Australia Since 1997.  This was the first East Coast meeting of ANFA and was initiated due to the potential for stationing of nuclear submarines at Port Kembla.

Today we hear from Greens Senator David Shoebridge addressing the meeting on some of the serious threats from AUKUS.  Currently the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee is conducting an Inquiry into Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 [Provisions] and Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 that will report on April 26.  

We also share recordings from the launch of the Peace Walk Against AUKUS that had a send off at the ANFA meeting on Sunday 17 March and set off from Port Kembla on Monday 18 March.  Local elder Uncle Peter Button held a smoking ceremony to begin the walk.  The walk will continue on to arrive in Canberra on 17 April and you can follow along on the social media (Beyond Uranium Canberra or via the website www.beyonduraniumcanberra.net.

Finally we'll hear long time anti-nuclear activist and former Radioactive Show presenter Bilbo speaking about the Keepers of Lake Eyre anniversary that will meet up on 26 March to talk about the next steps in the protection of Arabana country and in particular the sacred mound springs.