Pip Hinman, Sydney

On August 15, Marrickville Council reaffirmed its anti-nuclear stance, unanimously adopting a motion from Greens’ Mayor Sam Byrne that called on policy makers to “focus on the practical benefits provided by renewable energy and energy efficiency — safe, proven technologies that are available now, rather than on expanding the nuclear industry”.

The council adopted a nuclear-free zone policy in 1997, declaring that for health and safety reasons the local government area would remain free from nuclear activity and the transportation of nuclear material.

“The federal government’s apparent support for an expansion of the nuclear industry, and the federal Labor opposition leader’s call to replace its 'no new mines’ policy with a new approach based on stronger safeguards on uranium exports, is of immense concern and should be strongly opposed by Council”, Byrne said. He commended shadow environment minister Anthony Albanese for opposing any change in Labor’s policy.

Byrne stressed that the mining and export of uranium, and its use in the nuclear industry, pose security risks and are costly to workers, communities and the environment. “There are also no adequate safeguards to nuclear proliferation and no solution to the problem of nuclear waste”, he said. “Climate friendly solutions to energy and greenhouse problems lie in wind and solar power, and energy efficiency”, he added.

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