AUKUS & potential terrorism threats.

I don’t think the federal or state government have seriously evaluated what would happen if there was an accident or terrorism strike on the AUKUS nuclear submarines, either in Adelaide or Perth. Or if they have, they certainly aren’t telling us, or planning to provide iodine tablets to locals living in the area.

Robyn Wood. FOE Adelaide, 27 Feb 2026

I’ve been looking at a bit of history and since 2000 there have been three credible attempts towards bombing Lucas Heights.

Three bomb threats to Lucas Heights

The first plot was uncovered by NZ police who found Afghan refugees had plans to bomb Lucas Heights during the Sydney Olympics. They weren’t jailed. I wonder where they are now.

The second was in 2003, when a French Al Qaeda supporter called Willie Brigette came to Australia to teach people how to make bombs destined for Lucas Heights. He was deported back to France. I wonder where he is now. After the plot was discovered, the NSW Health Department told councils and emergency services that residents within 3km of Lucas Heights would be evacuated, and residents within 80km of Lucas Heights (most of Sydney) should stock up on iodine tablets at their own expense. I doubt Sydney people have been told that. The fire brigade, ambulance and other emergency services threatened not to attend a nuclear emergency as they didn’t think the state government was prepared enough, and they were not happy that iodine tablets wouldn’t be supplied to Sydney.

Secret government report – I don’t know who the whistleblower was, but it’s thought that a secret “radiation consequences analysis” commissioned by the nuclear regulator ARPANSA found that a terrorist strike on Lucas Heights could contaminate most of Sydney with radiation. Not released publicly. After 9/11 the regulator’s CEO told a Senate Inquiry that they were considering the impact if a plane hit the reactor building. Nothing has been released publicly. The government claims that it has to stay secret as it might help terrorists and Sydney residents don’t need to know.

The third one was in 2005, Islamic militants in Sydney were arrested for being a terror cell and stockpiling bomb-making materials, training in outback hunting camps and planning a possible attack on Lucas Heights. Three of them were caught near Lucas Heights and when they were separated, each man told police a different story. Bomb making chemicals and equipment was found in their houses. I can’t find what happened to them, and wonder where they are now.

Years ago, Islamic State called for jihadist supporters to attack in western countries.

I wonder if Mark Butler and other MPs are aware of this history? I wasn’t.

References. The Guardian –https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/nov/15/australia.bernardoriordan

Nuclear FOE – https://nuclear.foe.org.au/articles-about-lucas-heights-accidents-emergency-planning-insurance-etc/

IPCS – https://www.ipcs.org/comm_select.php?articleNo=1892