Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor is unable to support this motion. The motion presented by Senator Hanson-Young is technically incorrect. The assertion that the project would be inconsistent with South Australian law cannot be confirmed. It also makes no reference to the actions of the South Australian government in adopting a policy that local Aboriginal communities should have a final right of veto over any future facility proposed on their lands. This has been an ongoing issue for 30 years. Advice received is that a national facility is required in the medium term. Australians depend on nuclear technology for medicines used in the diagnosis of heart disease and skeletal injuries, as well as a range of cancers. Radioactive waste is managed in 100 locations around Australia, including hospitals, industrial sites, mines and suburban Sydney.