2024-10-31
The Greens have called on Peter Dutton and the Labor Party to unequivocally rule out storing high and intermediate level nuclear waste at Osborne near Port Adelaide after SA Defence Minister Stephen Mullighan refused to do so on ABC Adelaide radio this morning.
Peter Dutton and Labor combined to pass the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill which designates Osborne in SA as a nuclear dump zone, allowing for the dumping of US and UK intermediate-level waste and other high-level nuclear waste. Adelaide residents will tonight attend a community forum in the marginal seat of Sturt to discuss Peter Dutton’s nuclear agenda, 6:30pm at Burnside Town hall.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for the Environment & Senator for South Australia:
“Adelaide residents have a right to know if our suburbs will become a dumping ground for high and intermediate level nuclear waste from the US and UK.
“There should be no room for secrecy or tricky answers here: Peter Dutton and Labor must come clean now and unequivocally rule out storing high and intermediate level waste in Adelaide suburbs. Adelaide residents deserve an answer: yes or no.
“The law Peter Dutton and Labor voted for clearly makes Osborne, a mere stones throw from suburban Port Adelaide, a nuclear dump ‘zone’, with both major parties voting against the Greens amendment to stop high level waste being dumped there.
“Peter Dutton not only wants nuclear reactors across Australia - he wants Adelaide to be an international dumping ground for nuclear waste.
“Exposure to even intermediate-level waste is lethal to humans and the risk lasts for hundreds of years.
“Peter Dutton doesn’t care about Adelaide and this law is a dangerous disaster for our State. This time, SA voters have the chance to send a message by voting Green: don’t turn Adelaide’s suburbs into Peter Duttons nuclear waste dump.”