Fortune Views

― Advertisement ―

spot_img

Despite $75B in VC Investments in Q4, Startups Struggle to Secure Funding

Venture capital investment in U.S. startups surged to $74.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, a significant rise from the $42 billion average...
HomeNewsAukus Deal May Lead to US and UK Sending Nuclear Waste to...

Aukus Deal May Lead to US and UK Sending Nuclear Waste to Australia, Inquiry Hears

Concerns have emerged that Australia might become a repository for international radioactive waste following the Aukus deal, according to discussions at a parliamentary inquiry into nuclear safety legislation. The fear is that new laws for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines will pave the way for the U.S. and the UK to offload their nuclear waste onto Australian soil, complicating the waste management issue, as neither country has established long-term, high-level waste facilities.

The Australian naval nuclear power safety bill, introduced in November last year, is designed to set up a nuclear safety regulatory framework and allow for naval nuclear propulsion facilities, potentially including the storage or disposal of radioactive waste from Aukus submarines. This bill, alongside another for licensing the regulator, is under Senate inquiry review, with a report expected by April 26.

Critics like Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation have expressed alarm over Australia potentially becoming a “radioactive terra nullius” for Aukus partners’ waste. This concern is amplified by the unresolved domestic management of intermediate-level waste and the notable absence of effective waste management strategies by Australia’s Aukus partners.

Defence minister Richard Marles has countered claims of Australia accepting foreign nuclear waste, emphasizing national decision-making in waste management. The legislation, however, does mention facilities for managing, storing, or disposing of Aukus submarine radioactive waste, including those not fully operational or in disposal phases, which has stirred public debate and scrutiny.

The inquiry also touched on the broader challenges of nuclear waste management, with international examples highlighting the complexities and long-term planning needed for safe disposal. As Australia navigates its Aukus commitments, the issue of nuclear waste management remains a contentious and critical aspect of its defense and environmental policy, warranting careful consideration and strategic planning.