Nuclear debate ‘a must’ for South Australia, says union boss

THE state’s most powerful union boss has joined a Business SA campaign for South Australia to debate the issue of nuclear power.

THE state’s most powerful union boss has joined a Business SA campaign for South Australia to debate the issue of nuclear power.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association state secretary and Labor Right faction powerbroker Peter Malinauskas has gone against the views of the State Government to back the nuclear industry.

“I believe climate change is a real challenge we need to face up to, and nuclear energy can be a safe source of base load power, with zero carbon emissions,’’ he said.

“Thus, I find it contradictory and irresponsible when I see the Greens and environmentalists outright opposing nuclear power.

“We should have a mature debate based on science and economics to determine if a nuclear industry is viable in SA.’’

See the Advertiser.com.au survey results

In contrast the Labor Party on Friday affirmed its opposition to a nuclear dump and power plant in SA, while the Liberal Party said there was “no support for any progression of this industry”.

This month The Advertiser revealed Business SA wanted a uranium enrichment industry and radioactive-waste storage industry trialled in South Australia.

But Greens MLC Mark Parnell said pro-nuclear advocates ignored economic evidence as well as environmental safety.

“There is adequate evidence that further involving SA in the nuclear cycle is a bad move economically, socially and environmentally,’’ he said.

“Renewable energy is the future for SA, not nuclear.’’

Political parties and community leaders were this week asked to comment on the results of a Future SA survey that thousands of readers of The Advertiser/Sunday Mail responded to in print and online.

When asked “Should we allow nuclear power stations in SA?”, 58.3 per cent of respondents said yes and 41.7 per cent said no.

When asked “Should we create a uranium dump in SA?”, 44.1 said yes, but 55.9 per cent no.

South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon, who is backing candidates in the SA Legislative Council, said he supported debate on nuclear issues.

“I support debate, but am highly sceptical that we will ever need such a (nuclear) plant,’’ he said.

A spokesman for Family First said the party would not answer “yes” to either question, but called for an investigation into the costs and benefits of nuclear power.

“For electricity prices across the state, which are so high, we ought to at least invest in finding out whether in the long term our power issues and energy security, as a state, are going to improve and be more affordable long-term by investigating nuclear power,’’ the spokesman said.

Business SA director of policy Rick Cairney said: “We are pleased to see that 60 per cent of South Australians are pro-nuclear which shows there is an appetite to value add our vast uranium reserves and strengthens the case for a public debate on the entire nuclear industry’’.

“Even if there is currently somewhat of a reluctance to develop a nuclear waste storage industry, at least the public is now to considering the possibilities.’’