2016-09-02
The Australian Greens have branded the Liberal-National Government's 18 month delay in identifying a nuclear waste storage site in Australia a complete failure, raising serious questions about its process, which has resulted in only one site nomination and caused fierce community backlash and distress.
Today, Friday September 2, 2016 marks 18 months since the process to identify a nuclear storage site began, prompting the Australian Greens to reiterate their call for a nation-wide inquiry into the best way to manage nuclear waste that puts science, evidence and community engagement before site selection.
Greens co-deputy and nuclear spokesperson, Senator for WA Scott Ludlam has submitted a raft of questions to Parliament to answer whether another site has been nominated, and an update of the only site nominated at Barndioota, South Australia.
"On March 2, 2015, then Minister for Resources Ian McFarlane called for site nominations, which to date has resulted in nothing but distress for the Adnyamathanha community," he said.
"We need an independent inquiry to establish the best way to manage this waste before we dive into site nominations, which are deeply distressing for targeted communities.
"We need to rule out the Barndioota/Yappala site because the community opposition is strong, the cultural and heritage values are immense and the tourism trade-off is unacceptable.
"It's a new Government, a new minister, so we need a new process - one that puts science, evidence and community engagement before site selection.
"I support the community action in South Australia this weekend, people coming together as an independent community initiative in Port Augusta to discuss all SA nuclear waste issues."