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| Sandra Kanck Deputy Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
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Legislative
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| Sandra Kanck Deputy Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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RADIOACTIVE WASTE
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Treasurer, representing the Premier, a question about the likelihood of South Australia accepting medium-level nuclear waste from the Lucas Heights reactor.
Leave granted.
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: Today's Advertiser reports that South Australia is now the likely dumping ground for medium-level radioactive waste from the reprocessing of spent fuel rods from the Lucas Heights reactor.
The Hon. M.J. Elliott: Thanks, Nick-a South Australian senator!
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: Yes, he represents South Australia very well. The so-called medium- level nuclear waste, which is classified as high-level in Europe, from the spent fuel rods leaves a highly toxic legacy for tens of thousands of years. The federal government intends to decommission and replace the existing reactor at Lucas Heights in 2005. The vast bulk of Australia's internally produced medium-level nuclear waste comes from the Lucas Heights reactor. Despite the fact that Australia's nuclear waste expertise is concentrated in Sydney, therefore making it the best place to store any waste, the new Lucas Heights facility will not have the capacity to store its nuclear waste on site. It is this decision that prompts the search for a nuclear waste site in South Australia. Noting the contents of the ministerial statement made earlier this afternoon by the Premier, and his objection to the concept, my questions are:
1. What pressure does the Premier intend to bring to bear upon his South Australian federal parliamentary colleagues to ensure that they take action to keep the waste where it is made?
2. Will the state government sponsor a bill designed to prevent the location of a medium level nuclear waste dump in South Australia?
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I will refer the honourable member's question to the Premier, but I tabled a ministerial statement from him today-
The Hon. Sandra Kanck: Which I referred to.
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: You might have referred to it, but you did not refer to the bit that says:
I wish to make it very clear that I am opposed to medium to high level radioactive waste being dumped in South Australia. On this issue there has been no consultation with the state government.
