David Noonan (environmentalist)

David Noonan is an Australian environmentalist and member of the anti-nuclear movement in Australia. Noonan is a former anti-nuclear campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation, and has been a prominent spokesperson during campaigns against the expansion of uranium mining in Australia and against the establishment of nuclear waste storage facilities.[1][2] He has a science degree and a Masters in Environmental Studies.[3]

David Noonan speaks in Adelaide, 2014
David Noonan speaks in Adelaide, 2014

Advocacy

Noonan has been a regular media spokesperson and opinion-writer representing the case against the establishment of nuclear power in Australia and Australia's participation in the global nuclear industrial fuel cycle.[4] Noonan has also advocated for investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency as alternatives to nuclear energy.[5]

In the 1990s, Noonan spoke against the development of Jabiluka and Beverley uranium mines.[6] With respect to the Beverley mine's in-situ leaching process, he drew attention to the absence of any requirement for the mine's operators to re-mediate impacted groundwater.[7]

Noonan has provided evidence to Parliamentary inquiries into nuclear issues at state and federal levels.[8] In 2002 he provided evidence to a Parliamentary standing committee on nuclear safeguards.[9] The following year, he provided witness testimony to a parliamentary inquiry into nuclear waste transport and disposal in New South Wales.[10]

Following the South Australian government's successful appeal against a decision by the Howard government to establish a nuclear waste dump in South Australia, Noonan told the media:

"The court has shown here today that the federal government exceeded their powers in trying to override the will of the South Australian community and the will of the SA parliament... They have failed in the land acquisition for this nuclear waste dump and they will not get away with imposing a nuclear waste future against SA's interests."[11]

Noonan went on to win the Conservation Council of South Australia's Jill Hudson Award for Environmental protection to acknowledge his campaigning work opposing the waste dump development.[12]

In 2005 he referred to former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke's advocacy to end the Labor Party's three mine policy on uranium mining and to establish a nuclear waste repository in Australia as "undemocratic and dangerous."[13] In the same year, he argued that to replace coal with nuclear power generation in the name of fighting climate change, was simply replacing a hazardous process (burning coal) with a hazardous technology (nuclear power).[14]

Noonan has advocated against the export of Australian uranium to Russia and China as he considers both nations to be in non-compliance with their Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations.[15][16][17]

In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Noonan drew attention to export sales of Australian uranium to Japan made by BHP and Rio Tinto, and warned Australia to "steer clear of the risks of nuclear energy."[18]

Noonan's advocacy efforts attracted criticism from pro-nuclear environmentalist Ben Heard, who described him as having an "ultra-combatative demeanor" and "rusted on politics" in 2011.[19]

He has spoken out against various aspects of the Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine and its planned open cut expansion, including the management of its radioactive mine tailings and its water and energy requirements. He is opposed to the establishment of a new seawater desalination plant at Point Lowly, where the brine discharge could threaten the breeding grounds of the giant Australian cuttlefish.[20]

Noonan has also spoken publicly on nuclear issues in academic debates,[21] at public forums,[22][23] conferences,[24] demonstrations[25] and community events.[26]

See also

References
  1. "New reactor should be scrapped - ACF". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 July 2004. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  2. "Govt undermining nuclear security: ACF". Sydney Morning Herald. 5 August 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  3. "Submission to the Terms of Reference of the Royal Commission" (PDF). 9 March 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  4. Sexton, Mike (2 March 2011). "The future of uranium". 7.30. ABC. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  5. "Nuclear energy: money can't buy love". ABC News. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  6. "Radio-Active Show Transcript - November 14, 1998". www.sea-us.org.au. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  7. "Beverley mine to irradiate underground water". www.johnm.multiline.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  8. "House of Representatives Committees". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  9. "Report 44 Four nuclear safeguards treaties tabled in August 2001 Joint Standing Committee on Treaties" (PDF). The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. 1 May 2002. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  10. "Joint Select Committee on the Transportation and Storage of Nuclear Waste - INQUIRY INTO THE TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF NUCLEAR WASTE" (PDF). Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  11. "Australian Court upsets government plan for desert nuclear waste dump". www.terradaily.com. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  12. "The Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection" (PDF). Conservation Council of South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  13. "Nuclear dump call dismissed". The Age. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  14. "Is this cleaner?". The Age. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  15. "David Noonan | Breakfast on Radio Adelaide". radioadelaidebreakfast.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  16. "Anti-nuclear campaigner warn agains [sic] plan to sell uranium to Russia". 19 March 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  17. "Uranium sales to China | Friends of the Earth Australia". www.foe.org.au. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  18. Noonan, David (16 March 2011). "Japan's nuclear emergency a warning to Australia and the world". On Line Opinion. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  19. "| Friends of Which Earth? Giving Green the Red Light". www.thinkclimateconsulting.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  20. "David Noonan from the ACF says BHP Billiton must shift its planned desal plant in SA". ABC. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  21. "The Nuclear Debate | Environment Institute". www.adelaide.edu.au. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  22. "Olympic Dam mine will fuel nuclear disasters like Fukushima & leak radioactive waste - Pt 1". Youtube.com. danimations. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  23. "SA NT, events, Amnesty International Australia - Working to Protect Human Rights". www.amnesty.org.au. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  24. "Environmental Activists' Conference '08 - Draft full program" (PDF). 17 September 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  25. "Water Action Coalition | Chris White Online". chriswhiteonline.org. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  26. "David Noonan ACF 070809". Youtube.com. andyvetsa. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
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