This episode of Earth Matters investigates the toxic legacy of waste on stolen Aboriginal land, from the radioactive scars of nuclear testing and uranium mining to the invisible spread of PFAS “forever chemicals” in our waterways. Drawing on stories from Maralinga, Kakadu, and the Blue Mountains, and with a personal reflection on Wreck Bay, the program explores how contamination doesn’t just harm health—it severs cultural ties, disrupts food systems, and undermines sovereignty.

Through a First Nations lens, we uncover the common thread running through these crises: governments and corporations treating Country as expendable, while communities are left to live with intergenerational impacts. Yet resistance remains strong, from Mirarr opposition to uranium mines, to Barngarla victories against nuclear dumps, to communities fighting for accountability on PFAS.

Toxic Waste on Stolen Land is a call to recognise the colonial roots of environmental contamination and to stand with First Nations peoples demanding justice, protection of Country, and an end to sacrifice zones.