Post election wrap-up: where to from here?

 

Following the change of Government in the WA State Election on February 2001, the campaign to keep Western Australia nuclear free can move into a new phase. How has the election changed the political landscape, and what does it mean for the work that we do?

State Election 2001
The election result is certainly a turning point for the green movement, with green preferences deciding the outcome of many seats and five Greens (WA) members elected to the Legislative Council (Upper House). The addition of Robin Chapple (the co-ordinator of ANAWA) and Dee Margetts (who worked incredibly hard on nuclear issues during her time in the Senate) shifts the balance of power in the Upper House into the hands of the Greens. It also signals a mood in the electorate that many people are no longer satisfied with the 'business as usual' model of economic rationalism and are looking for a fundamental change in society. There will never be a better time to push for an effective end to the nuclear industry in Western Australia.

Uranium Mining in WA
While it seems unlikely that the Labor Government will approve any new uranium mines while in office, the mining companies have plenty of patience. Prospecting and advanced exploration work have been undertaken during previous Labor governments, with the intention to have projects ready to go when the market conditions improve.

While we may hope that the new political situation could cause some of the smaller exploration companies to leave the industry, WMC, Rio Tinto and Cogema have deep pockets and long term interests. It is therefore essential that in this term of government we are able to pass the Nuclear Activities (Prohibition) Bill, which bans mining and exploration for uranium and thorium and would mean the effective end of the nuclear industry in Western Australia. The bill, introduced by Greens (WA) MLC Giz Watson in 2000, also makes the previous Nuclear Waste (Prohibition) Act 1999 redundant and would provide greater legislative protection against nuclear waste dump proposals. Ensuring the passage of this bill into law is our single most important priority in the months ahead.

Pangea Resources
Pangea are still operating out of a secret location somewhere in the Perth Central Business District. Apart from attending a number of conferences in the eastern states and overseas, they have stayed out of the media as much as possible.

Their stated intention is to submit their feasibility study for an international high level nuclear waste dump to government in 2002. We believe they have narrowed the focus of their work to a site 100km east of Laverton in western Officer Basin. This site probably falls within the Cosmo Newberry Aboriginal Reserve.

Pangea have stated repeatedly that they are not deterred by the Nuclear Waste (Prohibition) Act, and we believe that if push came to shove, the Federal government could override local laws and force the dump on WA, as they have threatened to do in South Australia. It is therefore essential that we push for anti-dumping laws at a Federal level with the assistance of Greens Senator Bob Brown and the PNFF group, and continue the grassroots and research work here in WA. When Pangea make their move in 2002, we need to be more than ready.

Nuclear Weapons
ANAWA will continue to support People for Nuclear Disarmament (PND) and the Medical Association for the Prevention of War in their work for a nuclear weapons-free world. In particular this means working for the cancellation of US plans for a Ballistic Missile Defence system and continuing to work with the Abolition 2000 network which is organising towards a global nuclear weapons convention. The recent actions against the French nuclear submarine FNS Perle show that community feeling about nuclear navies is still strong. The Fremantle council has led the way by cancelling all city-sponsored welcomes to nuclear navies: the next step is to ban the visits altogether at a Federal level.

National Campaigns
Nuclear issues are raging in South Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales, and Western Australians have a strong history of support for national campaigns.

In the short term, ANAWA's most immediate role is to raise awareness in Western Australia that these campaigns are ongoing, and make sure that the environment movement and the broader community is aware of developments in the Eastern States. Support in terms of submissions, fundraising and more direct assistance should be organised by ANAWA for these campaigns as the need arises. The federal election later this year will provide a rallying point for ANAWA to support national nuclear issues and ensure that the broader Australian community is aware of the threats facing WA (principally Pangea).

International Campaigns
ANAWA has provided support for international campaigns, mainly in the form of work done by member groups such as PND, CANNWA, MAPW and FANG. Significant current campaigns we can support include the moves to abolish BMD (and nuclear weapons generally) and the work of Russian environmentalists to stop their country from becoming an international nuclear dumping ground. We have also provided moral, media and financial support to the Adivasis around the Jaduguda uranium mine in India. We have developed ties with the anti-nuclear movement in Japan, the USA and India. It is essential that this work continue.

The election of a pro-nuclear Republican government in Washington has given the global nuclear industry a breath of hope - that the US may soon start building reactors again, leading to a rebound in the price of uranium and a surge of interest around the world.

One area in which many other groups have been working is the intercontinental movement of nuclear fuel and nuclear waste: in particular, shipments of plutonium fuel between France and Japan. The rest of the region is up in arms about this trade: the Australian Government apparently couldn't care less. We can change this.

Summary
ANAWA is now well placed to assist the passage of the Nuclear Activities (Prohibition) Bill through Western Australian Parliament, and this will be our focal point for some time. Its passing will be the culmination of 30 years of campaigning!

Our other immediate concern is to keep the heat on Pangea, tracking their progress and preparing for the release of their feasibility study.

We must also work toward Federal legislation banning the importing of nuclear waste, and support the national campaigns against Lucas Heights and the national waste dump.

ANAWA would like to thank everyone who has supported us and enabled us to get as far as we have: not a single uranium mine in Western Australia, Pangea forced into hiding, a more receptive State Government (we hope!) and antinuclear activists in State Parliament. It is deeply encouraging to know that ANAWA is merely the tip of a vast iceberg of antinuclear feeling in Western Australia.

the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia
email admin@anawa.org.au