Senator Shoebridge declared Port Kembla to be in the cross hairs for a naval base and a naval waste dump site thanks to the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2024 which passed parliament on October 10.

"We're here because a fortnight ago, the Commonwealth Parliament in an ugly deal between Labor and the Coalition passed legislation that enables either this defense minister or the next Defence Minister to declare Port Kembla a naval nuclear facility, a naval base and a naval waste dump simply by regulation without having to speak to the council, without having to speak to traditional owners without having to speak to the community," Sen Shoebridge said.

"... with the flick of a pen make Port Kembla, a nuclear submarine base and a future coalition government has now been given the power to turn Port Kembla into a nuclear submarine base."

Story by Janine Graham in the Illawarra Mercury, 23 October 2024.

Romy Gilbert from WIN News covered the briefing at Wollongong Council, and the WAWAN - Wollongong Against War and Nukes community meeting ahead of the May 6 - Port Kembla: March Against the Nuclear Base.

Councillor Cath Blakey said:

"I think it's incredibly alarming. It's like it's implied that this is what Wollongong is in for, that the Federal Government is working towards nuclear submarines here in Port Kembla."

"They've talked about consultation and this feels like it's the kicking off of that consultation."

"I want to see Port Kembla ruled out as the site for nuclear submarines, but I also want to see talk of diplomacy."

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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 NSW Greens and the South Coast Labour Council said nuclear powered submarines floating in Port Kembla harbour would make the region a military target and jeopardise plans for renewable energy jobs at the port.

Story by Nick McClaren at ABC Illawarra, 16 March 2023.

Wollongong City councillor and Greens candidate for Wollongong Cath Blakey said the people of Wollongong would say no to a submarine base.

Story by Connor Pearce in the Illawarra Mercury, 14 March 2023.

Wollongong councillor Cath Blakey said her community is alarmed by the prospect of a nuclear submarine base being built on its doorstep.

"It's causing alarm that it could make us a potential military target," Ms Blakey said.

Story by Jessica Clifford at ABC Illawarra, 13 March 2023.

Story by Matt Bamford on ABC's The World Today, 13 March 2023.

Report by Romy Gilbert at WIN News, 13 March 2023.