Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews takes swipe at South Australia, declaring his state won’t become nuclear dumping site

Two state premiers are pushing for SA to become a nuclear dumping site under the AUKUS submarine deal, with Dan Andrews firing a backhander by declaring it won’t be in Victoria.

The premiers of Victoria and WA have suggested nuclear waste generated by the AUKUS submarine deal should be dumped in South Australia.

But acting premier Susan Close said any decision must be based on science instead of “political considerations”.

The AUKUS deal will require Australia to dispose of the nuclear waste, meaning the Commonwealth will need to decide where it will be dumped.

On Thursday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he was not prepared for the site to be in Victoria.

“I think all the waste can go where all the jobs are going,” he said.

“I don’t think that’s unreasonable, is it?”

The AUKUS pathway will create an estimated 20,000 direct jobs, with the bult to be located in South Australia and WA.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said he did not believe waste should be dumped in his state, and nominated outback SA as a suitable site.

“One site which is a pretty clear place it could go is Woomera in South Australia because it’s already a defence facility,” he said.

Woomera, in the Far North, was used as a long-range weapons testing range after World War II.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

Dr Close hit back, declaring any decision on nuclear waste storage must be based on science.

“Let’s let science lead the way and not listen to political considerations, particularly from state leaders trying to move nuclear waste that doesn’t yet exist across the border,” she said.

She said there would be a process to decide the eventual site, and “we’ll await how that works out”.

Acting Premier of South Australia, Susan Close (far left) at Snapper Point on the Port River on March 16 with Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher, Australian Naval Infrastructure CEO Andrew Seaton and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

South Australia is set to benefit financially from the AUKUS deal when the submarines are built locally.

In a recent interview, South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas said the nuclear waste should be dumped in a place that is in the “best interest of the nation’s security” rather than what is in the “best interests of a parochial argument”.

Mr Andrews on Thursday fired back, stating that Victoria wouldn’t benefit nearly as much as South Australia would under the deal.

“My good friend — and he’s a ripping bloke and he works very hard and has been very successful so I’m not having a go at him or his state, but just to be clear, for the record – the South Australian Premier is asking people not to be parochial? Seriously,” he said.

“Those matters can be determined. We’re a long way off that.”

Originally published as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews takes swipe at South Australia, declaring his state won’t become nuclear dumping site