Mining – Friends of the Earth Adelaide

Free Public Talk on Nuclear Issues in SA: Saturday 17 October

robyn October 2, 2026

You are invited to a free Public Talk on Nuclear Issues in SA

Saturday 17 October
2-3.30pm
Minor Works Building – upstairs
22 Stamford Ct Adelaide
(Parking on Sturt or Wright Streets)

Public Talk: Nuclear Issues in SA: Uranium, Nuclear Waste Dumps, AUKUS and SMRs

David Noonan will speak on public interest concerns over the new Roxby Downs Indenture Act 2026 on BHP copper-uranium mining and ore processing in SA, and on how AUKUS may face SA with a High-Level nuclear waste agenda.

Dr Jim Green will discuss international developments in the field of nuclear power including ‘small modular reactors’ and Generation 4 ‘advanced’ nuclear reactor concepts.

Please register for the free public talk at Humanitix https://events.humanitix.com/nuclear-issues-in-sa
Coffee, tea and snacks provided.

The public talk will be followed by the Friends of the Earth Adelaide 2026 AGM from 3.30-4pm. Please RSVP for the AGM to adelaide.office@foe.org.au if you would like to attend.

All welcome.

Banner image for Nuclear Issues in SA: Uranium, Nuclear Waste Dumps, AUKUS and SMRs

Adelaide FoE Notes, AUKUS, Clean Futures, FoE, Mining, Nuclear, Publications

Roxby Indenture Bill fast tracked: outrage as days given to comment on new BHP deal with government

Philip White June 15, 2026

Independent Environmental campaigner David Noonan has labelled the time period given to scrutinise updates to legislation governing BHP’s Roxby Downs mine as a “farce”, while the Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis says opponents want to “thwart this investment”.

BHP seeks 50-year mining rights to expand Olympic Dam mine, as SA Labor Ministers ignore public submissions input. Mining and Energy Minister Tom Koutantonis said public submissions were “not relevant”, including from Traditional Owners and the Aboriginal Voice to Parliament.

BHP and the State Government have agreed on a Roxby Downs Bill and new Indenture to govern Olympic Dam and associated mining expansions for the next 50 years. This is a re-run of precedence being given to big mining vested interests that has typified SA from back in 1982. It sets in train potentially long term BHP demand for water from the Great Artesian Basin in the driest State, with ongoing harm to the fragile and culturally significant Mound Springs.

See the articles linked below.

ABC article (15 June 2026): Concerns over Great Artesian Basin water impacts in new BHP agreement

InDaily article (15 June 2026): Outrage as days given to comment on new BHP deal with govt

FOE Adelaide also sent a letter to the Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher asking for Traditional Owners submissions to be respected and listened to, especially the one from the Voice to Parliament. Ignoring them and calling them “irrelevant” makes a mockery of the whole Voice to Parliament project. We asked for the vote on the Bill in the Upper House to be stopped, and for proper hearings to be held after the Parliamentary winter break. When we phoned Minister Maher’s office today we were told our letter “had been taken into consideration”. See attached letter

Mining, Nuclear

anti-nuclear, BHP Billiton; Olympic Dam, friends of the earth, Mining

FOE Adelaide Submission on Roxby Downs Indenture Act

robyn June 7, 2026

FOE Adelaide Submission to the Select Committee on Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) (Amendment of Indenture) Amendment Bill 2026

Summary: This brief submission covers Community concern over the Bill’s rushed inadequate process, extended legal privileges to BHP interests, toxic mining waste, Traditional Owner rights, and continued threats to Mound Springs & Great Artesian Basin waters.

Note that notice of the callout for submissions was 22 May and closed on 1 June which was grossly inadequate for democracy to be fulfilled.

Refer to our brief submission here.

Clean Futures, Mining, Nuclear

anti-nuclear, BHP Billiton; Olympic Dam, Mining

Transport Support for Nuclear-Affected First Nations Communities

Philip White May 24, 2026

Please support representatives from nuclear-affected First Nations communities to travel to the annual gathering of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA).

With rising petrol costs disproportionately affecting First Nations communities, particularly those in remote regions, the cost of getting mob to this year’s ANFA Gathering in regional South Australia will be significant. Friends of the Earth Australia is asking for donations to support the transport and travel expenses to help these representatives make it to the meeting.

What is ANFA?

Formed in 1997 by the late Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, the founder and first president of ANFA, alongside current president Auntie Sue Coleman-Haseldine, the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance brings together Aboriginal people and relevant civil society groups concerned about existing or proposed nuclear developments in Australia, particularly on Aboriginal homelands.

Find out more about ANFA and donate to the campaign on the following web site:

https://chuffed.org/project/181490-transport-support-for-nuclear-affected-first-nations-communities

Adelaide FoE Notes, FoE, Mining, Nuclear, Transport

anti-nuclear, community, Mining

NGOs Ask Australia to Suspend Lynas’ Rare Earth Export to its Malaysian Plant

Trish Winfield August 17, 2019

MEDIA RELEASE | Friday 16 August 2019

AUSTRALIA | Yesterday, Australian rare earth producer Lynas Corporation has been granted conditional six-month licence extension by the Malaysian Government. However, environmental and human rights non-government organisations in Australia have joined their counterparts in Malaysia in expressing grave concerns at this decision.

Lynas owns and operates a rare earth mine in Western Australia and ships lanthanide concentrate from its Mount Weld mine to Malaysia to its controversial secondary processing plant to extract rare earth oxides and carbonates for its Japanese and Chinese customers. This process leaves behind an enormous amount of toxic waste laced with thorium, uranium, heavy metals and other chemicals.

Friends of the Earth Australia, AID/WATCH, together with Australian chapters of Malaysian BERSIH Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections and Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia Melbourne (SABMOZ) have responded to a petition that has gained momentum in Malaysia demanding that Australia suspends Lynas’ rare earth export to Malaysia because Lynas has no safe disposal facility for its radioactive waste.

(more…)

Adelaide FoE Notes, Mining, Nuclear