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. He has a science degree and a Masters in Environmental Studies.

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. Noonan has also advocated for investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency as alternatives to nuclear energy.

In the 1990s, Noonan spoke against the development of Jabiluka and Beverley uranium mines. 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.

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

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."

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