Antinuclear

Labor Party dithers in vote over nuclear waste dumping in South Australia

Nuclear waste dump: Labor votes at SA convention to delay decision on proposal, ABC News By Daniel Keane, 29 Oct 16,  “……Inside the conference, Mr Weatherill defended the decision to explore the nuclear option, but Labor MP Steph Key told the gathering of ministers, MPs and party members her constituents strongly opposed the idea.

“People in Ashford don’t favour a high-level nuclear waste dump,” she said.

“We think there needs to be a special convention so that we can talk about these issues in detail within the party, and see whether or not there is a social licence within the Labor Party first of all for such a thing.”

Frontbencher Peter Malinauskas used his speech to mock the demonstrators.

“We’re all here past lunchtime, unlike the protesters,” he said.

“The difference between us and them, of course, is that we take very seriously our obligation to make sure that our ideology is underpinned by evidence.”

But Labor voted to delay a decision on whether to pursue a nuclear dump until it holds a special convention, in line with Ms Key’s suggestion, at the end of the community consultation process.

Citizens’ jury hears from expert witnesses  The party conference coincides with a royal commission citizens’ jury at the Adelaide Convention Centre, where about 350 randomly selected people are meeting this weekend to discuss the state’s possible involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle.

Mr Weatherill has previously been confronted by protesters over the issue, and was heckled on his way into a previous citizens’ jury.  “I don’t know where this debate is ultimately going to end, either in the community or in this party,” he told the convention…..

The citizens’ jury is hearing from more than 30 experts witnesses over two days.  A report prepared after the citizens’ jury meetings will be presented to Mr Weatherill next month.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-29/sa-nuclear-dump-decision-delayed-at-labor-state-conference/7977670

October 29, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, South Australia, wastes