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

asked the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 5 July 2012:

(1) Is the Minister aware of the 29 June 2012 report (ntnews.com.au) regarding the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, Mr Martin Hoffman, raising concerns with St. Ignatius College, Riverview, New South Wales after a boarder from Tennant Creek addressed students about the Governments plan to build a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty.

(2) Was the Minister aware of the Deputy Secretarys approach to the school seeking a right of reply to the assembly speech delivered by this 15 year old.

(3) Did the Minister approve the Deputy Secretary approaching the school offering a briefing or debate in a private discussion, open debate or interview format.

(4) Will the department undertake to travel to Tennant Creek to offer the same briefing that was offered to the schools principal or participate in the same debate as proposed for St. Ignatius College, Riverview.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Resources and Energy has provided the following response to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Yes. .The Minister read the newspaper report.

(2) No.

(3) No. It was a personal matter.

(4) Departmental officers have already conducted briefings on management of radioactive waste at Muckaty Station and nearby locations at Helen Springs and Renner Springs in the immediate vicinity of the nominated land at Muckaty Station. Consultations will be held at more distant locations such as Tennant Creek (130 kilometres from Muckaty Station) in the event that land in the region is selected as the site for a national radioactive waste management facility.