2018-08-15
The Australian Greens are calling on the Liberal Government to abandon its plans to build a nuclear waste dump in outback South Australia, in their dissenting report into the selection process for a nuclear waste dump Senate Inquiry tabled in Parliament.
“This inquiry has found that the Government has completely disrespected local communities in the Flinders Ranges and Kimba, failed to gain consent of traditional owners, and has no mandate to build a nuclear waste dump in South Australia,” Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“The Flinders Ranges and Kimba communities have been put through extreme stress through this long, divisive process. The Flinders Ranges is one of the jewels in South Australia’s tourism crown – that would be lost if it is turned into a nuclear waste dump.
“A waste dump in the middle of agricultural land in Kimba will put at risk our clean, green reputation and damage our state’s key grain export industry.
“The site selection process has been grossly mismanaged, and these South Australian communities have been manipulated and mistreated. The brave Adnyamathanha women fighting to protect this site are standing up for preserving thousands of years of cultural significance, and they are to be commended.
“These communities, and South Australians more broadly, will be disappointed to see Labor, as chair, has not taken a strong position against this nuclear waste dump considering there is such strong opposition to it.
“The Greens are proud to stand with those fighting this nuclear waste dump and commend their bravery for standing up to the Government to stop it.”
Greens recommendation:
The Australian Greens believe the Federal Government has no mandate to situate a radioactive waste management facility in South Australia.
It has mismanaged the site selection process, fallen short of international best practice and failed to secure the consent of traditional owners.
For these reasons the Australian Greens recommend that the site selection process does not proceed further.