No time for silence

Australians have in recent years experienced a serious decrease in their rights to participate in the political process (Sidoti, 2003). This has been particularly marked in the restrictions placed on campaigners against the Federal Government's nuclear reactor in Sydney. Since the 1950s, anti nuclear reactor activists have faced major barriers to gettng their message across due to government strategies and lack of media scrutiny (Rankin & Gale, 2003). In November 2003, little-publicised amendments to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act passed through Federal Parliament. The Act now imposes draconian penalties on those scrutinising or opposing nuclear facilities, uranium mines. radioactive waste dumps and nuclear waste transports. This legislation. which the Federal Government claims increases national security at nuclear facilities, effectiveIy silences any public scrutiny of these facilities. This paper tells part of this story, highlighting the major flaws in the Federal Government's plans for a new nuclear reactor; The authors are a community activist in the campaign against nuclear reactors in Sydney and a former elected member of Sutherland Shire Council, and the national nuclear campaign coordinator lor the Australian Conservation Foundation.