Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the shadow minister for her question. The position of the Australian government has been completely clear: we're not signing this agreement. This agreement is in respect of two countries which both have a civil nuclear industry, and we do not. It's completely clear that for Australia to—

Opposition Member:

An opposition member interjecting

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I take the interjection. The idea that the reactor in Lucas Heights is about to power cities around Australia says everything about how those opposite have no idea how nuclear energy works.

The Leader of the Opposition come up here earlier and said that all we need to do is to get some uranium together and burn it, and, if we burn some uranium, that's how we'll create energy. That's the level of their understanding. The idea that Lucas Heights, which is a research facility which produces medical isotopes, is somehow going to be a reactor which powers cities says everything about how they have no idea what they are talking about.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, he could say those things, but, under the standing orders, as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition knows, he doesn't have to. He needs to remain directly relevant to the policy topic and to the question he was asked. I am sure he will follow the standing orders, just as I am sure everyone follows the standing orders.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I am saying is that the Australian government is not signing this agreement. It is an agreement which goes to civil nuclear energy. That means nuclear reactors which provide energy to cities and to electricity grids, and we do not have that in this country. As a result, this agreement is not relevant to Australia.