Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to add to an answer that I gave to Senator Bob Brown’s question earlier today on nuclear power. I advise the Senate that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 currently prohibits the establishment of a nuclear power plant in Australia. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 also prohibits ARPANSA from issuing a licence for a Commonwealth nuclear power plant. So, as I said in my answer, there is no legislative framework for the regulation of nuclear power in Australia because, obviously, such an industry does not currently exist. Should it be contemplated, the necessary legislative changes and regulatory framework would obviously be required, as I outlined.