Protesters unite against nuclear waste in Port Augusta

https://www.transcontinental.com.au/story/5271501/protesters-unite-against-nuclear/ Marco Balsamo

Members of the Flinders Local Action Group (FLAG) stood side-by-side with Adelaide-based group Don’t Dump on SA in Port Augusta to protest against a potential radioactive waste facility in South Australia.

The two groups, together with local Adnyamathanha and Barngarla people, joined forces on the Princes Highway ahead of the state election, highlighting their concerns to locals and passing traffic with signs and information packs.

With a large inflatable radioactive waste barrel and a lime green three-headed kangaroo on display, protesters made their disapproval of the potential facility in either Wallerberdina Station or Kimba very clear.

The protesters also encouraged locals to get involved by sending submissions to the Senate Inquiry into the selection process for a national radioactive waste management facility.

FLAG member and Hawker general practitioner Dr Susi Andersson said the broader community needed to know about the issue.

“The federal government is treating this as an issue for the local people only, but many people visit and care about the Flinders Ranges and don’t want a dump there,” Dr Andersson said.

Parliament passed the Nuclear Waste Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000 in order to “protect the safety and welfare of the people of South Australia” and the protesters encouraged locals to vote for parties who would defend this legislation.

The Greens scored a five-star rating in a scoreboard conducted by an alliance of environment and community organisations across the state.

The scoreboard was based on responses to a survey sent to the leaders of the state’s five parties, rating them on their commitment to stopping climate pollution, ramping up clean energy and protecting nature.

SA Best scored second-best with a three-star rating, while Labor scored two stars followed by Liberal with 1.5 stars.

The Australian Conservatives, who recently backed a nuclear waste facility in SA, did not respond to the survey.