Press release – 28 October, 2015Sydney, 28 October 2015 – Greenpeace Australia Pacific has slammed a call from Australia’s next Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, for a renewed debate on the option of nuclear power as part of the country’s energy future.“While we welcome government discussions on alternative energy sources, it’s completely nonsensical to even pose the idea of building nuclear power stations in Australia when we have such an abundance of truly clean and renewable energy on our doorstep,” said Emma Gibson, Head of Program for Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
“If we used just 1 percent of land in Australia, we could produce enough electricity to power the whole country. [1]
“Nuclear power, on the other hand, is expensive, dirty and unreliable. It leaves a legacy of radioactive waste which remains dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years.
“We only have to look at the Fukushima disaster in Japan to be reminded of the health, social and economic impacts of a nuclear accident, and to see that this is not a safe option for Australians.
“No nuclear reactor has ever been built to deadline or within budget. Nuclear power is an expensive distraction from the real solutions to climate change, like solar and wind power.
“Any government seriously considering the nuclear option needs its head testing,” said Ms Gibson.
ENDS
[1]
http://bit.ly/1H8AagD
