WA delegates were really happy to join the 2023 Australia Nuclear Free Alliance meeting at Quorn in South Australia for the first time in three years. We were happy to welcome new WA members Kita and Jolisha Barton. Below is the 2023 ANFA statement:
Australia Nuclear Free Alliance Meeting Statement 2023
Over the weekend of March 24-26th, the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) held its national gathering in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.
ANFA is a network of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and groups who share concern and action around nuclear threats. ANFA has existed for over 25 years and has played an important role in many big fights including the successful effort to halt the Jabiluka uranium project in Kakadu, hold off all attempts to mine uranium in Western Australia and multiple attempts to impose radioactive waste on Aboriginal lands, especially in South Australia.
After three years of Covid disruption and against the backdrop of the recent shock AUKUS nuclear submarine announcement everyone was eager to come together, reconnect and reaffirm our commitment to work together against all forms of imposed nuclear projects.
We agreed to keep resisting the nuclear industry through opposition to:
- Uranium mining operations
- A planned national radioactive waste dump at Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia
- Increasing nuclear threats and war-fighting plans reflected in the newly announced and secretly developed AUKUS submarine plan
- And by joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – nuclear weapons ban treaty
Over the weekend many people talked about the need for genuine respect and recognition and the importance of resistance to protect what really matters: community, Country and culture. One participant described it this way:
“When you are connected to country and you have your strength and truth and you stand united, you can achieve anything.”
Another person said: “They come around saying we will get money and cars if we say yes to this nuclear project. To people of poverty this sounds good, but we know it’s not.”
Around the world, nuclear projects like mining, weapons testing and waste dumping impact Indigenous communities more than any other people. ANFA members live with this reality here in Australia: “They talk about empty country that doesn’t have anyone living on it that they want to poison. There’s no such thing as empty country that no one lives on anywhere in Australia. Everywhere is someone’s country, someone’s home.”
ANFA agreed to stay connected and strong across the country to support all people standing up and saying no to nuclear projects and radioactive poison.
