National radioactive waste facility

Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick says confirmation today that the selection process for a national radioactive waste management facility would be finalised by the end of the year because the Government does not want it overlapping with the federal election is "all part of the political sham that this Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Government is running".

"The Federal Government wants the entire process done and dusted by the end of the year," said Rex. "There will be a vote in Kimba and Hawker this year and the Government will claim a positive result locating in nuclear waste facility in northern South Australia, no matter what the community sentiment is.

"By declaring that the federal election is setting the time frame, Resources Minister Matt Canavan has confirmed the absolutely political and predetermined nature of the Government's decision making."

In Minister Canavan’s Nominations of Land Guidelines for the landowners wanting to put their land up as a site for a national radioactive waste management facility, nominees are advised: "Community support is a key consideration for a nomination to progress. A facility will not be established where there is not broad community support." 

Yet the submission of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science to the Senate Inquiry into the Site Selection Process says: "The Act does not require, define or specify a minimum level of 'broad community support'."

"These diametrically opposed positions don't stack up," said Rex. 

"The Dr Jekyll Government has advised the Hawker and Kimba communities that they would get to have their say on the facility being located on agricultural land near their townships in a vote later this year but the Mr Hyde Government was quoted in media last night saying the decision will be made by the end of the year because they don't want it overlapping with a federal election. Futhermore, Minister Canavan has made it very clear that Kimba and Hawker are the Government's strong preference and the truncated time frame for a decision is clearly designed to preclude any real consideration of alternatives.

“If I translate his political speak, the Minister is signalling that it does not matter what the community says in the vote, there is a political imperative that means the answer is that either Hawker or Kimba will be the site."

The Minister’s comments came in the wake of revelations last week that he is ignoring a likely more suitable site in Leonora WA. Senator Patrick visited the remote site last week.

"I appreciate the need for a site to deal with Australia’s low level waste, but it has to be located in a place where the community are in favour of it being there," said Rex. "The site selection process needs to be fair, not the sham that it currently is."

"Other politicians need to stand up and protect the community from a facade. Why are South Australian Liberals Birmingham, Pyne and Ruston silent on this? What are their views?"