ACF agrees: Nuclear power a 'mugs' game
ACF has agreed with comments from Senator Nick Minchin that nuclear power is for mugs and has urged all political parties to back a clean energy future for Australia.
"Nuclear power is not only politically divisive it is also unsafe, unnecessary and uneconomic. The true climate-friendly answer to Australia's energy questions is renewable energy - like wind and solar power - and better energy efficiency" said ACF's Sustainability Program Manager, Erwin Jackson.
On the weekend the federal Liberal Council resolved to support a feasibility study into nuclear power in Australia - despite senior party figures like Finance Minister Nick Minchin opposing the move and Resource Minister Macfarlane's prior comments that domestic nuclear power would be no 'quick debate' and would take at least 20 years.
"ACF welcomes the Liberals discussion on the importance of reducing greenhouse pollution but our growing levels of greenhouse pollution need active attention today - not the mirage of nuclear power," said Erwin Jackson.
"By 2015 wind power could supply the equivalent of 3 nuclear power stations and by 2020 solar power could supply the equivalent of 1 nuclear power station and supply 31,000 jobs and $2 billion in exports. Renewable energy is where our future is."
"Contrary to the industry PR nuclear power is not clean, it's not cheap, it's not secure and there is still no safe way to deal with the radioactive waste it inevitably produces," said ACF Anti-Nuclear Campaigner David Noonan.
"Over many decades Australians have shown their opposition to uranium mining, radioactive waste dumping and nuclear weapons testing.
Any push for nuclear power would see strong community resistance as nuclear power is linked to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the generation of dangerous and long-lived radioactive waste."
