labor divided on nuclear debate, page-19

nuclear power not the answer: dems Nuclear power not the answer: Dems
June 07, 2005
From: AAP
ANY push on nuclear energy for Australia was dangerous and misguided when there were safer options to reduce greenhouse emissions, the Australian Democrats said today.

With federal Cabinet meeting today in Canberra, the Government is believed to be considering a reversal of its plan to send nuclear waste offshore due to security fears and transport difficulties.
Prime Minister John Howard suggested shipping the radioactive material to a remote offshore post 11 months ago, but is thought to be considering again the merits of a mainland site.

Options could include disused defence land in the Northern Territory.

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Democrats leader Lyn Allison today said it appeared the Government had finally realised global warming was not a myth and was looking for ways to face up to that reality.

"For the Howard Government, this turns out to be expanding uranium mining, favouring the myth of clean coal and writing off renewable energy, local small-scale power generation and support for consumers who want to cut their power bills and move to wind and solar power," Senator Allison said.

"A nuclear reactor produces 20 to 30 tonnes of long-lived highly radioactive waste a year.

"The Howard Government is unable to deal with the Commonwealth's own low-level waste, let alone waste on that scale."

Senator Allison said nuclear power generation peaked in 1988 and was not expanding as the industry suggested.

"The US has not ordered a new nuclear reactor in over 25 years, despite the Bush administration's encouragement of nuke power," she said.

"It is primarily the nuclear weapons states that are keen to promote nuclear power and they do so because they need to keep up their nuclear expertise for military purposes.

"All the evidence suggests the Howard Government should not entertain nuclear-power technology."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15537423-31037,00.html