Australia Could Charge Ex-Senator $150,000 in Legal Fight Over Nuclear Waste Records

Ex-senator Rex Patrick won a May 2026 ruling to release AUKUS nuclear waste storage documents. The industry department appealed and may charge him up to $150,000 in legal fees if he loses. Patrick got partial fee protection. Transparency groups say this scares people from using freedom-of-information requests. The department says its rules don't block the move.