Plans for radioactive waste dump near Kimba could face roadblock in the Senate
Controversial plans to build a radioactive waste dump near Kimba in outback SA could face a roadblock in the Senate.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A radioactive waste dump set to be built in outback South Australia could face a roadblock in the Senate, with Labor unwilling to back the Bill without changes.
The Federal Opposition wants to axe part of the legislation which names Napandee farm, near Kimba, as the location for a radioactive waste facility which would store low-level waste permanently, and intermediate level waste for several decades.
Labor wants Resources Minister Keith Pitt to have to declare the location, instead of Parliament locking it into law.
A ministerial decision would leave the location open to a judicial review.
Labor MPs were divided on whether to block or support the Bill, but settled on a position yesterday after a lengthy party room debate.
One Labor MP said indigenous Australians were “largely excluded” from the ballot which asked the community whether it would welcome the facility, and that the current Bill would “sterilise” their legal right to challenge it.
Labor will vote to block the Bill in the Senate unless the Federal Government scraps the section which names a location.
It means the crossbench will have a crucial vote on whether the bill passes.
South Australian independent senator Rex Patrick will vote against the Bill unless it is amended to require the minister to select a site in the Woomera Prohibited Area, instead of Kimba.
Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff has not yet settled on a position.
One Nation has yet to announce a position, but is not expected to back the Bill.
