Port Kembla is going to house a nuclear submarine base but the federal government isn't in any hurry to admit it. That's the theory of Greens Senator David Shoebridge in the wake of Monday's release of the Defence Strategic Review.

Sen Shoebridge believed that location was Port Kembla and the government was delaying any announcement until funding for the AUKUS subs project reached a level that made it too big to cancel.

"The review confirms the east coast for a nuclear-powered submarine facility but the government's refusal to confirm its exact location treats the people of the Illawarra like mugs," Sen Shoebridge said.

"Defence and the government have already indicated that Port Kembla is the preferred location for this facility. Putting off the confirmation of the exact location is essentially dishonest.

"The government needs to be honest with Australians, those living on the east coast and especially the Illawarra community and inform them of where this facility will be located before they lock in spending billions of dollars on these subs."

Story by Glen Humphries in the Illawarra Mercury, 25 April 2023.

During Question Time in the senate on Friday, Greens senator David Shoebridge asked Labor senator Don Farrell how the submarines will be safely accommodated in major population centres such as Port Kembla.

Mr Shoebridge cited Griffith University emeritus Professor Ian Lowe's calculation that each US-built Virginia-class submarine carries 200 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.

"What guarantees are you providing on how that material can be safely accommodated in major population centres like Port Kembla?"

Mr Shoebridge called on the government to make clear to the Illawarra how the weapons-grade uranium powering each submarine would be safely stored when in harbour.

"Communities like the Illawarra who are being threatened with a nuclear submarine base deserve the truth about this reckless nuclear submarine deal and the Greens will keep demanding answers in Parliament until we get it," Mr Shoebridge said.

Story by Conor Browne in the Illawarra Mercury, 24 March 2023.

24 March 2023

In response to questioning by the Greens Defence Spokesperson David Shoebridge, the Labor government today refused to disclose how much weapons-grade uranium would be carried on the Virginia class submarines Australia will buy under the AUKUS submarine deal.

The people of the Illawarra were being "treated like mugs" by the lack of open information about a potential nuclear submarine base at Port Kembla, the Greens say.

The Greens said the submarines would force deep cuts to expenditure on essential services, while making the city a nuclear target.

"Wollongong is a city with 100 years of peace activism," Wollongong Greens councillor Cath Blakey said.

"We have stood up to pig-headed prime ministers in the past, and we will do so again to say we want a peaceful city, that we say no to nuclearisation of our Port. I'm dismayed that the Labor government is leaking information about the preferred location of the nuclear submarine base. It shows not only how much they take the Illawarra for granted, but also outright contempt for our community.

"They're refusing to provide any information about how the floating nuclear power plants would be managed, overseen or their reactive waste managed."

Greens Senator David Shoebridge blasted the Government for not being open with the population.

"This leaking of the Defence Department's preferred submarine base treats the people of the Illawarra like mugs," he said. "Locating a nuclear submarine base in Port Kembla makes the Illawarra a potential target for nuclear attack, all with zero public consultation around the risks to the community. With this one decision, Labor is mortgaging our future in order to stoke regional tensions with a dangerous escalation in regional defence spending."

Story by Ben Langford at the Illawarra Mercury, 14 March 2023.

Story by Ben Langford at the South Coast Register, 14 March 2023.

Today’s $368+ billion submarine announcement should send a shiver through the Illawarra, with Port Kembla earmarked as the preferred base for the new nuclear-powered submarines.

"Cannabis is less harmful than alcohol, and isn't the gateway drug that conservative people try to make out it is."

"A local resident ... had to stop using medicinal cannabinoids because they register on the random drug tests. He was having no side effects and he was feeling pretty good using the cannabinoids, and they were at a low level and didn't cause him impairment, but then he had to got onto pharmaceuticals and if he misses his pharmaceutical dose he gets lots of side effects."

"The focus for law enforcement needs to be on impairment, not just drugs being in a person's system. If you're impaired full stop, whether it's on legal drugs or illegal drugs or alcohol, you shouldn't be on the road or doing stuff."

"It particularly impacts on people who are taking it for pain management in measured doses that are shown to not have impairment problems."

Amanda Findley, Shoalhaven Mayor and Greens candidate for the South Coast.

Story by Glenn Ellard at the South Coast Register, 6 March 2023.