The next step in South Australia’s Nuclear Farce
OK – Now it has turned up on http://yoursay.sa.gov.au/blogs/draft-terms-of-reference
The Premier’s media release says that you can find the Terms of Reference at www.yoursay.sa.gov.au.
I couldn’t find anything there about the subject. Perhaps later?
Symptomatic of the clumsy and inept rush that characterises this tacky Royal Commission idea.
Also no mention of personnel – other than the pro nuclear former S.A Governore Kevin Scarse. (at right) Independent, my foot!
Anyway – here are the Draft Terms of Reference
For the purposes of discussion:
A. At present, minerals containing naturally occurring radioactive materials are extracted and milled in South Australia for shipment and sale. Small quantities of radioactive substances are produced in South Australia for medical use locally. Limited quantities of industrial and scientific radioactive wastes are stored in South Australia, in addition to the storage and disposal of mine wastes on mining sites. Otherwise, South Australia does not participate in the conversion or enrichment of materials for the nuclear fuel cycle, the generation of electricity from nuclear fuels, and does not participate in the management, storage and disposal of other nuclear wastes.
B.Detailed consideration and analysis is required to be given to the potential of South Australia’s further participation in the nuclear fuel cycle, whether through the expansion of the current level of exploration, extraction and milling of minerals containing radioactive materials, the further processing of those minerals or processing and manufacture of materials containing radioactive and nuclear substances, the establishment and operation of facilities to generate electricity from nuclear fuels, and the establishment of facilities for the management, storage and disposal of nuclear waste, and to the risks and opportunities that those activities would present.
The draft terms of reference direct the Royal Commission to inquire into and report on:
- whether there is any potential for the expansion of the current level of exploration, extraction or milling of minerals containing radioactive materials in South Australia, any circumstances necessary for such an increase to occur and to be viable, any risks and opportunities created by expanding the level of exploration, extraction and milling, and the measures that might be required to facilitate and regulate that increase in activity.
- the feasibility of the further processing of minerals and processing and manufacture of materials containing radioactive and nuclear substances (but not for, or from, military uses) including conversion, enrichment, fabrication or re-processing in South Australia, any circumstances necessary for that further processing or manufacture to be viable, any risks and opportunities associated with establishing and undertaking that further processing or manufacture, and any measures that might need to be taken to facilitate and regulate the establishment and carrying out of further processing or manufacture
- the feasibility of establishing and operating facilities to generate electricity from nuclear fuels in South Australia, any circumstances necessary for that to occur and to be viable, the relative advantages and disadvantages of generating electricity from nuclear fuels as opposed to other sources, including with regard to greenhouse gas emissions, any risks and opportunities associated with that activity (including its impact on renewable sources and the electricity market), and any measures that might need to be taken to facilitate and regulate their establishment and operation.
- the feasibility of establishing facilities in South Australia for the management, storage and disposal of nuclear and radioactive waste from the use of nuclear and radioactive materials in power generation, industry, research and medicine (but not for, or from, military uses), any circumstances necessary for those facilities to be established and to be viable, the risks and opportunities associated with establishing and operating those facilities, and any measures that might need to be taken to facilitate and regulate their establishment and operation.
The draft Terms of Reference specifically require the Royal Commission, when inquiring into the risks and opportunities associated with the above matters, to consider, where appropriate, their impact upon the economy the environment and the community (including regional, remote and aboriginal communities).
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of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
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