The 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the Hunter today raises serious questions about the Liberal National Coalition’s plans for nuclear reactors in regions across Australia that are prone to earthquakes, said Solutions for Climate Australia.
The earthquake's epicentre was very close to the Liddell power station where the Liberal National Coalition aims to build at least one nuclear reactor. The retired coal power stations in Port Augusta have been earmarked for a nuclear reactor by the Liberal Nationals. This is deeply concerning as the region also experiences earthquake activity.
Solutions for Climate Australia Senior Campaigner Elly Baxter said the Liberal National Coalition needed to answer serious questions about safety, emergency response, radioactive waste and water availability at the Port Augusta site.
"The Liberal Nationals need to tell local residents how an emergency at a nuclear reactor would be handled and who would handle it," Baxter said.
"Would local firefighting volunteers handle the nuclear material? What training would local firefighting volunteers receive in handling nuclear radiation? Who would train them? Would the army come in to help?
“How would iodine tablets be distributed to locals to try to reduce cancer risk? What would be the fallout zone and where would the local emergency staging area be? Where would nuclear refugees be accommodated?
"Would the Federal Government be responsible for the emergency management given under the Liberal National policy, the Federal Government would own the nuclear reactor?
"What would happen to the radioactive waste and who would be responsible for that? Where would the enormous volume of water come from to deal with the toxic, radioactive emergency?
“These safety issues only compound our concerns that nuclear reactors will take too long to build to protect Australians from the worst impacts of climate change.
"We need to have a mature conversation about the safety and security of nuclear reactors. The risk of a nuclear meltdown due to an earthquake is real and the consequences would be very serious for local families and children."
ENDS
Contact details:
For interview:
Senior Campaigner for Solutions for Climate Australia Elly Baxter: 0407 163 921