

MEDIA RELEASE

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Senator Meg Lees

Australian Democrats

Parliamentary Leader

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1 December, 1998

98/891

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Democrats force Government to rule out accepting

international nuclear waste

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Following the release this morning of a video by the Pangea company 
promot ing Australia as an international repository for radio-active 
material, the Australian Democrats were able to secure from the Government 
a guarantee that this government would never accept medium-to-high level 
nuclear waste from overseas.

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Responding to a question from Senator Meg Lees, Democrats 
Leader and resources spokesperson, Senator Nick Minchin said:

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“...but I say that no high level radio-active waste 
facility is planned for Australia and the Government has absolutely 
no intention of accepting the radioactive waste of other countries. 
The policy is clear and absolute and will not be changed. We will not 
be accepting radioactive waste from other countries...”

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Senator Meg Lees welcomed the guarantee by Senator 
Minchin but she said she was appalled arrogance of the Pangea company 
in suggesting that Australia was an ideal place in which to dump world’s 
nuclear wastes.

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“The Pangea video is a clear indication of what 
flows from Australia’s enthusiastic participation in the international 
nuclear industry,” said Senator Lees.

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“As a member of the International Atomic Energy 
Agency, Australia mines and sells its uranium. The international community 
is going to increase pressure on Australia to accept radioactive waste. 
This video is irrefutable proof of that expectation.

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“If you are a senior member of the nuclear club, 
you have to pay your dues,” she said.

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“The Pangea video raises a multitude of questions. 
Who are the company claiming to have spoken to in Government and under 
what authorisation? What undertakings were given? Why were the traditional 
owners of these lands not even mentioned in this expensive promotional 
video? Will Senator Minchin be writing to the company to express his 
extreme displeasure at the company’s portrayal of Australia and request 
the video be withdrawn?”

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“There couldn’t be a more timely and better example 
of why this Government should actively discourage the mining and export 
of uranium — and in particular cease support for the Jabiluka uranium 
mine,” Senator Lees said.

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for furth  er comment:Â Senator LeesÂ 02 6277 3991

John SchumannÂ 0419 867876

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