Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that members of the Leonora community at a recent public meeting expressed distress and concern that Leonora is being targeted as the site for a national radioactive waste management facility under the so called 'Plan B';

(b) expresses its deep concern regarding the repeated attempts to impose an intermediate level waste dump on the lands of First Nations peoples; and

(c) calls for an independent inquiry to investigate the full range of options to manage Australia's intermediate level radioactive waste.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The National Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012 enacts a voluntary nomination process, and the government complements this with comprehensive consultation to inform and obtain the consent of the local community. While a nomination has been received by Leonora, the minister has stated he will not consider progressing the nomination until consultations on current nominations are complete. The necessary comprehensive consultation process may then take place. A further inquiry is not needed as there have been numerous public inquiries on the issue, all with the same conclusion—namely, that Australia must responsibly manage its radioactive waste through centralised long-term purpose-built facilities.

Question negatived.