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Australian Government begins search for nuclear waste dump
Friday 11 August, 2000
Australian Government begins search for nuclear waste dump
The Federal Government says it will take a further two years to
decide on a storage site for Australia's medium-level nuclear waste.
The Federal Resources Minister, Nick Minchin, has announced the start
of a national search for a site to store 500 cubic metres of
intermediate-level waste accumulated in Australia.
With the site for the storage of the nation's low-level waste
narrowed down to six sites, all in South Australia, the Federal
Government is looking at its medium level waste.
Senator Nick Minchin says a scientific committee will be set up to
advise the Government on an appropriate site.
But South Australian State Labor leader Mike Rann says there has
already been a deal between the state and federal governments to
locate the site in South Australia.
"We (Labor) believe that the Federal Government, the Howard
Goverment, has made its decision to locate the nuclear waste in
South Australia," Mr Rann said.
"Now there's a political problem out of it, they've set up a
committee to delay the formal announcement till after the next state
and federal elections.
"And if they do that, you can bet your bottom dollar, it'll be
located here in South Australia.
"But they think they can get away with it after the election the way
they did with ETSA (the Electricity Trust of South Australia)."
Greenpeace
Greenpeace has described the Federal Government's decision to search
for a site to store Australia's intermediate-level radioactive waste
as an "out of sight, out of mind" solution.
The Government says a scientific committee will be formed over the
next two months to advise on an appropriate area for the national
store.
But Steve Campbell from Greenpeace says the decision characterises
the Government's haste in pursuing the nuclearisation of Australia.
"It follows a pattern for these kinds of projects that we'll put it
out, outback in indigenous peoples' land, and not deal with the
problem at the site of production," Mr Campbell said.
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