nuclear power debate hits a snag
Nuclear power debate hits a snag By Saffron Howden June 07, 2005 From: AAP NEW South Wales Premier Bob Carr has been granted his wish for a debate on the merits of nuclear power, but he insists his state won't become a dumping ground for waste.
As the federal Cabinet met in Canberra today to discuss the fate of future nuclear waste in Australia, the Labor Party appeared divided over whether they supported power sourced from uranium. Federal Opposition resources spokesman Martin Ferguson was today quoted as saying he supported a debate on the issue.
"Whether the Labor Party likes it or not, this debate is not going to be closed down," Mr Ferguson told News Ltd newspapers.
Advertisement: But Labor's environment spokesman Anthony Albanese said the federal party remained opposed to nuclear power.
Mr Carr last week riled environmentalists by suggesting nuclear power was a viable alternative to energy sourced from fossil fuels, and it could bridge the gap between it and renewable power such as solar and wind energy.
But today, he ruled out NSW as a dumping site for nuclear waste, saying it was against state laws.
"It's against the law to establish a nuclear industry in NSW – that's what the state law says," Mr Carr said.
"The federal Government has got to look at locations that are remote, geologically stable and dry.
"The optimal locations are going to be outside NSW."
The federal Government had to take account of all the concerns about the disposal and transport of nuclear waste raised during a recent NSW parliamentary inquiry into the issue, Mr Carr said.
As the Northern Territory gears up for an election on June 18, it too has dismissed suggestions it could become the future site for a nuclear waste dump.
Meanwhile, the West Australian Government is opposed to any plans to develop nuclear power.
A spokesman for WA Premier Geoff Gallop said today his position on the issue had not changed.
"(The) Premier is opposed to uranium mining in WA, opposed to nuclear power and opposed to Western Australia being chosen as a medium level nuclear waste dump," the spokesman said.
But the federal Government remains committed to looking into the option.
Treasurer Peter Costello said it would be in Australia's interest to develop a uranium industry.
"I think we can move to a conclusion which is the development of Australia's uranium industry and the use of it for peaceful purposes would be very much in Australia's interest," he said.
"If domestic production stacks up on economic grounds, of course I would support it.
"The only point I would make is that we have large deposits of coal, we can produce electricity from coal extremely competitively."
A national nuclear waste dump, originally proposed for an outback South Australian site, was scrapped before last year's federal election campaign after resistance from the SA Government.
But The Australian newspaper has reported the Howard Government is discarding plans to send nuclear waste to an island because of terrorism and transportation fears.
