Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

It is an example of exactly the point that I am making, that structural racism exists in this country, that, when First Nations' people's sovereignty is violated, their country is trashed and this awful substance that white people don't want in their backyard is shipped off to their lands, there is an expectation that First Nations people defer, sit down and shut up. And, when a colleague of mine refuses to do that, she gets heckled from the gallery. That's what it looks like.

In her contribution to the debate on this bill, Senator Hanson-Young—I must acknowledge the work that she and her team have done in opposing this legislation—made the observation that it seems to have been, I think, South Australia's bad luck to have been identified as the site of this unnecessary waste dump. South Australia and Western Australia share a certain history of being selected by the other states of the federation to host these sorts of facilities. The Greens of Western Australia also share a history of opposing such developments. I pay tribute here also to Giz Watson, Robin Chapple, Scott Ludlam and Rachel Siewert, who all in their time have contributed greatly to the anti-nuclear movement in WA and made sure that it had a voice in state and federal parliament, whether it be against the Pangaea Resources venture or many of the other forms that that project took. The Greens have been on the front lines of those campaigns and have opposed them every step of the way. It also needs to be noted, as was noted by my colleague, that the process that has identified Kimba, particularly, is one that has excluded traditional owners.

The real kicker, of course, is that our national peak body, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, has ruled that the intermediate-level waste facility at Lucas Heights is secure and in line with best practice for the storage of nuclear waste. So our own body says that where it is now is where it should be. We know that international best practice tells us that the No. 1 thing you should not do with radioactive waste is double-handle it, yet that is what this project would entail.

The reality is that nuclear waste is one of the most toxic and dangerous materials in existence. That is why the safest place for uranium and nuclear by-products is in the ground, having not been taken out in the first place. Yet it is the wont of both sides of this chamber, over many decades, to bow to the pressure of the minerals councils to dig this stuff out of the dirt—at this particular moment, at the assistance of the National Party, who seem to live in an alternative universe where there is a need for nuclear power in this country and where the member for New England is a fit and proper person to be Deputy Prime Minister.

In conclusion, let me say that the continuing reality of the way in which First Nations people are treated in these discussions is an ongoing national shame to this nation. What we are seeing here is a can being kicked down the road through First Nations communities. We are seeing the Prime Minister get this stuff out of his electorate and into the backyards of all South Australians, particularly traditional owners. It is a proposal that we in the Greens oppose, and proudly so. We will continue to work with traditional owners. We will continue to listen to First Nations voices and support folks to oppose this proposal at every step of the way. I thank the chamber for its time.