Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 27 February 2012:

(1) Has the department provided advice to the Minister, the Ministers office or the New South Wales Government or its agencies regarding uranium deposits or the development of the uranium sector in that state; if so:

(a) to whom and when was the advice provided; and

(b) can this advice be supplied.

(2) What is the current status of Australia's involvement in the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) initiative.

(3) Has the department provided advice to assist in Australia's preparations for the upcoming Non-Proliferation Treaty conference to be held in Vienna; if so, to whom and when.

(4) Which departmental officers will attend the upcoming Non-Proliferation Treaty conference in Vienna.

(5) Did any departmental officers attend the recent Investing in African Mining Indaba meeting in Cape Town; if so:

(a) who; and

(b) what were the outcomes of the meeting.

(6) What is the current status of the Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group proposal to link AusAID funding to Australian resource projects.

(7) What advice has been provided or meetings held to consider or advance this proposal.

(8) Has the department reviewed the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Inquiry into Australia's relationship with the countries of Africa ; if so:

(a) what is the departments assessment of this report; and

(b) to whom has advice been provided in relation to this assessment.

(9) What advice or assessments has the department provided to the Government or its agencies (detailing which) regarding the Fukushima nuclear disaster, including:

(a) what has been the nature of this advice; and

(b) to whom has it been provided.

(10) Has the department been involved in any assessments or responses to papers, reports or processes of the United Nations, or other international organisations, regarding the Fukushima nuclear disaster?

(11) Has there been any material change in the legal, regulatory or operational framework of the uranium sector in Australia since the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

(12) In regard to the sale of uranium to India:

(a) what advice has the department provided to: (i) the Minister, and (ii) other parts of government, on this matter;

(b) can the Minister confirm what the process will be to advance this policy shift; and

(c) what is the departments role in this process.

(13) What is the current composition, status, meeting schedule and 2012 work plan of the Uranium Industry Framework taskforce.

(14) Can the Minister confirm the status of initiatives to streamline state and federal uranium approvals.

(15) Has the department provided any briefings to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency or the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities regarding the progress of the proposed nuclear waste dump at Muckaty, Northern Territory; if so, can the relevant notes or briefings be provided.

(16) Has the department prepared any modelling on the proposal to compensate states and territories for storing waste produced in their jurisdictions at the proposed nuclear waste dump at Muckaty; if so, how would the cost of storage be calculated, for example, per cubic meter or degree of radioactivity.

(17) Has the department calculated or prepared any modelling on the likely amount raised over the 300 to 400 year period for which the facility is scheduled to be operating.

(18) Did the department consult with the Northern Territory Government before agreeing to the $10 million amendment proposed by Senator Scullion; if so, can the Minister provide any correspondence or notes on correspondence relating to any such consultations.

(19) Has the department or Minister entered into discussions or correspondence with the Northern Land Council with regard to other site nominations being put forward if the Muckaty site does not go forward.