ENVIRONMENT - SOUTH AUSTRALIA - NUCLEAR WASTE REPOSITORY

Senator Allison, pursuant to notice of motion not objected to as a formal motion, moved general business notice of motion no. 422:

That the Senate

(a) notes that:

(i) the South Australian Parliament has passed the Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Amendment Bill (No. 19),
(ii) the legislation bans both the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in South Australia and the transportation of nuclear waste from other states to South Australia,
(iii) a 4-month sunset clause is contained in the legislation to allow legal advice to be sought to strengthen its effect, and
(iv) a majority of South Australians and the South Australian Parliament are opposed to the Federal Government plan to site a nuclear waste storage facility in that state; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government:

(i) to recognise that the South Australian Parliament has legislated according to the wishes of that state, and
(ii) to not proceed to locate a national nuclear waste repository in South Australia.

Question put and passed.

BIPARTISAN politics is often a bit much to ask of our elected representatives , and understandably so. But for South Australia's sake, wouldn't it be great if our MPs could present a united front against the nuclear waste dump the Federal Government is trying to foist upon us. SA will soon host a national respository for low-level waste in complete disregard of public opinion in this state.

Despite strong denials, it makes sense that we will then also be lumbered with the nation's intermediate waste. At no stage in this process has SA actually had a say. That was because the decision to place it here was taken long before it became public.

Now it seems sections of Parliament are lukewarm towards accepting the Government's election promise of holding a referendum near a federal election if (or when) the dump is officially placed here.

Some members of the Upper House, and probably the Liberal opposition, are concerned such a referendum would be used purely for political gain.

Perhaps. But surely it would be the best possible message to those in Canberra responsible for making us The Nuclear State.

As it is, the Federal Government has got away with this travesty unscathed. In this case, there is no justice.