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Nick Bolkus - Labor Calls On Howard To Freeze Nuclear Reactor Plans http://www.alp.org.au/media/0301/nbmsnuc160301.html Wednesday, 21 March 2001

Labor Calls On Howard To Freeze Nuclear Reactor Plans Nick Bolkus - Shadow Minister for the Environment

Media Statement - 16 March 2001

In light of the decision of a French court last night to ban the unloading of Australian nuclear waste in France, Labor today stepped up its calls on the Government to abandon plans for a new nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights.

"The French court's decision raises serious questions which must be addressed before any work proceeds on the new reactor" said Senator Bolkus, Shadow Minister for the Environment.

"The Prime Minister must step in to ensure that Australian taxpayers are not left open to significant liabilities if the waste produced by the new reactor cannot be reprocessed and adequately managed.

"Instead of pursuing Senator Minchin's nuclear ideology, the Government should opt for no nuclear future at Lucas Heights.

"It is now up to the Prime Minister to step in as Minchin has proven unbalanced in his dogged pursuit of the new reactor.

"The proposed plans are riddled with legal uncertainties and potential liabilities for the Australian taxpayer" said Senator Bolkus.

The French court's decision comes only a few weeks after the head or the nuclear regulatory body, ARPANSA, Mr John Loy gave evidence to a Senate Committee that he would not issue a licence for the new reactor unless a solution was found to the management of the waste.

"It would be irresponsible for Australian authorities to issue a licence after this decision by the French court" said Senator Bolkus.

"This is in addition to legal problems raised concerning Argentina's capacity to take waste

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from Australia for reprocessing - technically at odds with its constitution."

"Despite Minchin's linguistic contortions to argue that the spent fuel rods from Lucas Heights are not waste for the purpose of the Argentine constitution, it is still untested in the Argentine courts and counter to the definitions of the International Atomic Energy Association."

"John Howard must show some leadership and pull Senator Minchin into line on the issue of the new reactor. Not only has Minchin failed to make a case for the need for a new reactor, but he is now leaving the Australian community exposed to legal uncertainties about the long term management of the nuclear waste."

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Authorised by Geoff Walsh, 19 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600.

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