THERE is a broken record in Canberra stuck on the same old arrogant, provocative and downright boring message.

Science Minister Peter McGauran sounded suspiciously like his predecessor Nick Minchin with his threat on Tuesday that the Commonwealth will force two national nuclear waste dumps on South Australia.

Well Mr McGauran, which part of "No" do you not understand? Had you been paying attention for the past three years, you would be aware that the residents and Parliament of this state are implacably opposed to becoming a radioactive waste dumping ground for the nation.

Opposition is so overwhelming there is not even an argument.

The view of the Labor Party, government in waiting, was well documented during the state election campaign. As has been the public view, well documented by opinion polls.

The renewed threat to override state legislation to establish a long-lived intermediate waste dump here reeks of complete disdain for the Federal Government's supposed role as a servant of the people.

That Government lost its right to establish the intermediate dump here when it tried to foist it upon the SA outback in secret.

It was only when the extent of the plan was made public, that the tonnes of dangerous waste at Lucas Heights were destined to come here, did the Government attempt to rationalise its case.

It was too late then. It is later now.

We must readily accept there is waste already in SA that needs a permanent resting spot. Indeed much of it is spread across the city and basements and even disused stairwells. We will look after that ourselves.

Mr McGauran said on Tuesday he would "take note" of the views of South Australians only to add that these would not be a final determinant.

Well, listen up Mr McGauran. In SA, No means No.

A threat to hold a referendum on nuclear waste dumps a week before the next federal election will be used by the State Government to avoid having radioactive material buried in South Australia.

Premier Mike Rann described the plan yesterday as "the state's ultimate nuclear deterrent".

The Government will also legislate to ensure that even a low-level radioactive waste dump can not be located here.

A Bill to allow the ban, and to establish a trigger mechanism for the referendum, will be introduced into Parliament today by Environment Minister John Hill. Another element of the Bill will be a ban on the transport of radioactive waste from other states or overseas into SA.

The move follows a letter to Mr Rann from Prime Minister John Howard asking the State Government to "support, rather than hinder" the development of a low-level nuclear waste dump in SA.

Up to three sites near Woomera are being considered by the Commonwealth for a national nuclear waste repository.

Mr Howard's letter - copies of which Mr Rann released yesterday - says no decision has been made on a site and that there is no intention to establish a high-level waste repository. It says the SA sites were chosen after "extensive scientific assessment and consultation with the community and SA Government".

The Federal Government can establish the waste repository on Commonwealth land because its laws override SA jurisdiction.

"The Federal Government will not receive any co-operation from a Rann Labor Government," Mr Rann said yesterday.

"They can override state decisions but they don't have the political or moral force to do so.

"It is vitally important we try to prevent at all costs any government trying to override a state ban. We know this is a David and Goliath battle."

(SA has legislation in place, passed under the previous Liberal government, banning any intermediate to high-level waste dump.)

Mr Rann said the Environment Protection Authority was examining ways of storing the low-level waste accumulated within SA. "But I don't want us to be a repository for other people's nuclear waste and that is clearly what is planned by the Howard Government," he said.

Mr Rann said legal advice to the Government showed SA could hold a referendum a week before any federal election, describing the referendum option as "an extraordinary measure".

The referendum question would ask whether the voter approves of the establishment of a facility for the storage or disposal of long-lived intermediate or high-level nuclear waste generated outside the state.

Mr Rann urged Mr Howard to reconsider his Government's position and listen to the people of SA.

"We would rather have Canberra working with South Australians, not against us," he said.

The Honourable John Howard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACF 2600

My dear Prime Minister

I am writing to you about a matter that is of great concern to the overwhelming majority of South Australians: the Commonwealth's declared intention to establish a national radioactive waste dump in South Australia.

The South Australian Government is opposed to any national radioactive or nuclear waste dumps being established in this State.

Given that thousands of square kilometres of this State were contaminated in the British nuclear weapons tests in the 1950s and 60s, South Australia has more than played its part. Millions of dollars have been spent in cleaning up that land.

The South Australian Government accepts responsibility for the oversight of handling and storage of the small amounts of radioactive waste produced here at sites such as hospitals and universities. Responsibility for supervision of this will be given to our environmental watchdog, the EPA, as part of the reorganisation and strengthening of its role.

As part of its commitment to stop any national nuclear waste dump being built in this State, the South Australian Government will:
- legislate against any national nuclear or radioactive waste dump being set up in SA, including a low-level national repository and
- ban the transport of radioactive waste from interstate or overseas in SA for the purpose of sending it to a national waste dump in this State.

The South Australian Government will introduce legislation to hold a referendum of South Australians if any Commonwealth Government, now or in the future, attempts to use its powers to override state laws and seeks to establish a medium or high levbel nuclear waste dump in South Australia.

I look forward to having a positive and constructive relationship with both you and your Government. A am sure this can be achieved. However, I must make it clear that my Government and the vast majority of South Australians are opposed to this State becoming the nation's nuclear or radioactive waste dump.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Rann
Premier of South Australia
6/3/2002

HOW many times do they need telling? South Australians are totally opposed to this state being a nuclear waste dump. We reluctantly accept a safety responsibility to store our own low level wastes. But that is the end of the matter.

The Federal Government persists with its attempts to take these dangerous materials to a site near Woomera. The Science Minister, Peter McGauran, returned to the fray yesterday and is apparently willing to add injury to earlier injury and insult by spending public money on a campaign to tell us that the lethal waste is acceptable and that a national dump would not be the thin edge of a mighty fat wedge. Mr McGauran claims the issue has been politicised, especially by the Premier, Mike Rann.

Of course it is political. This is a political decision. But it is not party political. Many thousands of South Australians who will go to their graves without ever being tempted to vote Labor are still utterly opposed to this folly ­ and with reason. If Mr McGauran is so convinced of the merits of the proposal perhaps he would advocate Gippsland as an alternative site. Mr McGauran represents Gippsland in Federal Parliament.