Karina Lester is an ambassador for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. She fiercely fights against the planned nuclear power plant at Tarong, which is located just northwest of Brisbane. The dirt and clouds have Lester seriously worried about the plan. What concerns her most is what it could do to culturally important lands only four kilometers away. This fight is deeply personal for her. Her father, Yami Lester, was only ten years old when the British government exploded an atomic bomb on his people’s homelands in 1953. It was a traumatic event that resulted in him being blind for life.
Karina Lester, a Bujiebara people traditional owner, fiercely continues her father’s legacy. Today she fights against nuclear weapons as he did, building on his noble legacy. Yami Lester spent his life fighting against nuclear testing. His experiences have deeply influenced Karina’s opinion about the dangers of nuclear energy. She is wonderfully relentless in this battle. Her fierce passion leads her to fight for her community’s voice and rights even amidst a destabilizing threat from the government.
A Legacy of Resistance
Karina Lester calls her dad’s experiences at the tests ground, traumatic as they were, a type of “Indigenous sport.” “Dad’s witness account [was] of the black mist rolling, and the ground shaking over his Walyatjatjara country,” she recalled. She experienced the most devastating repercussions of those bombings, consequences that haunted Yami to her core. They laid the scars into the hearts of generations of Indigenous Australians who saw their lives wrecked by those decisions.
In 1953, the world of my late father fell suddenly into total eclipse, only four years after that test,” added Karina. She stressed the enormous personal price that nuclear testing has taken on her family. Her father’s legacy is what continues to embolden her. Now, she courageously challenges plans by the UK government to build a new nuclear power station on her family’s traditional territory.
Lester’s promise is mirrored by other Indigenous leaders, especially those who have historically fought against nuclear energy ventures for decades. For Yankunytjatjara-Anangu woman Aunty Janine Smith, opposition to nuclear energy on her country runs deep. “They want to try nuclear, then they’ll have to go over my dead body,” she declared, highlighting the fierce determination of Indigenous communities to protect their lands.
Community Voices Against Nuclear Power
For Karina Lester’s community, nuclear has always been a non-starter. Even after years of public consultation, they continually turned down plans for the development of a nuclear energy facility. Aunty Janine Smith is passionate about this topic. She condemned the federal government for coercing First Nations people into agreement on nuclear developments. What’s not okay is the reality that [governments] are still able to come and pressure First Nations folks to house nuclear power on our traditional territories,” she declared.
The concerns extend beyond cultural implications. That’s enough water for the ten proposed nuclear power plants. This should be a huge red flag given the South Burnett area is already suffering from lack of water. Aunty Janine highlighted the water scarcity issue, stating, “There is not enough water in the South Burnett to even supply all the towns with water.” This view is especially concerning when considering the feasibility and sustainability of such projects in arid jurisdictions where precious water resources are limited.
Given all these obstacles, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has publicly declared his opposition to the Coalition’s nuclear policy. His position really resonates with the sentiments expressed by numerous Indigenous leaders. They call for more meaningful discussion with First Nations communities on environmental and cultural issues.
Legal Precedents and Ongoing Advocacy
The fight against nuclear power takes on a broader context within Australia, especially following recent legal victories by Indigenous communities. Earlier in 2023, the Barngarla people stood up and won—a momentous victory against the establishment of a low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste storage facility near Kimba, South Australia. Their big win came through a Federal Court decision. This case illustrates the growing momentum among Indigenous groups advocating for their rights and interests regarding land use and environmental protection.
Karina Lester, T4America’s new full time advocacy associate, is looking to ride that momentum. She takes her advocacy against the proposed power plant at Tarong. She feels that openness and honest discussion with Aboriginal peoples are key first steps to repairing the relationship and fulfilling their grievances. “It’s about sitting down with Aboriginal people and having transparency about the whole process … We do have to make sure that we’re meeting these environmental, cultural heritage and important Indigenous issues,” remarked Warren Mundine, an advocate for Indigenous rights and development.
Even though she is up against some major challenges, Karina still believes that her hard work and dedication can make a difference for her community. She funnels her excitement about these developments into seeing the opportunities that are possible to create. She emphasizes the need to pursue them responsibly and in a way that respects Indigenous rights. “The jobs that can come out of it, the future training in science that could help those Aboriginal communities,” Mundine noted while discussing potential benefits.
