Our department’s response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
See Australia.gov.au for whole of Australian Government COVID-19 advice.
Main content area
About the Australian Radioactive Waste Agency

The Australian Radioactive Waste Agency (ARWA) is Australia’s radioactive waste management organisation.
The agency sits within our department, and will later become a non-corporate Commonwealth entity based in Adelaide, South Australia.
Our role and responsibilities
The agency was established on 21 July 2020 to:
- manage Australia’s radioactive waste in line with domestic and international regulations
- deliver and operate Australia’s National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF)
- facilitate communication between government, industry, stakeholders and local communities
- centralise best practice and knowledge about radioactive waste management, including developing a disposal pathway for intermediate level waste
The agency will manage the full life-cycle of the NRWMF:
- design
- construction
- licensing
- operation
- waste management, storage and disposal
- research and development
- decommissioning and closure
Read more
- View news and media
- Read about ARWA’s work to establish the facility
- See previous work by the taskforce to select a site for the facility
- Consultative committees are continuing to advise ARWA about the site for a limited time
Connect with us
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Contact us
- Email arwa@industry.gov.au
- Phone 13 28 46
- Write to us at: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources; Australian Radioactive Waste Agency, GPO Box 2013, Canberra ACT 2601
Last updated: 22 December 2020
Content ID: 67323