CANBERRA: Thousands of Australians gathered in the town of Port Kembla in the east on Saturday to demonstrate against the government’s plans to construct nuclear-powered submarines. The submarines are part of a $368 billion deal with the United States and Britain. Approximately 5,000 people participated in the demonstrations in Port Kembla, one of the potential locations for building the submarines.
The organizers of the protest voiced their opposition to the plan, arguing that it would impede the establishment of renewable energy facilities in the eastern region. The agreement to manufacture nuclear-powered submarines in collaboration with the US and Britain was announced in March last year.
Simultaneously, over a thousand people gathered in Wollongong to protest against plans to establish a local base for the nuclear-powered submarines, which are central to the AUKUS agreement. Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison had previously named Port Kembla, Newcastle, and Brisbane as potential locations for the new base on the east coast.
Members of the Australian Labor Party, union representatives, and activists from Wollongong Against War and Nukes (WAWAN) joined the protest in Port Kembla on Saturday, expressing their opposition to the proposed base.
Australians aim to convey strong message
The demonstrators aimed to convey a strong message that they are against the establishment of a nuclear submarine base not only in Port Kembla but anywhere else as well. The protest coincided with Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles’ announcement of the creation of a new agency, the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA), responsible for delivering the nation’s nuclear program.
Marles stated that the ASA would ensure the government’s commitment to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines and emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards of nuclear safety and radiological protection throughout the submarines’ life cycle.
The Albanese government recently conducted a strategic review and plans to make a decision on an east coast base later this decade. The government intends to consider alternative sites for the submarine base in addition to the three locations proposed by the former government.
The protests reflect the ongoing public debate and concerns surrounding the construction of nuclear-powered submarines and their potential impact on the region’s energy development and safety standards.
