Antinuclear

Mr Weatherill announced a statewide referendum would be held — but with no date, no question and no proactive effort made to talk to Opposition Leader Steven Marshall, the plan is on ice.

He told a media conference he would not abandon discussions about a facility, despite having no plan that would provide an answer one way or the other in the foreseeable future.

Asked repeatedly if nuclear would be an election issue, or if the 2018 election would be a quasi-referendum on a waste facility, the Premier was firm.

“No, because there’s no bipartisanship. We won’t be pushing ahead with a referendum until there’s bipartisan support,” he said.

“We will not pursue a change to our policy, but if the mood in the community shifts and bipartisanship is re-established we will remain open to this question.”………

Mr Weatherill said a referendum would be “at the end of the process”, after all kinks and issues had been worked out.

“I believe it’s a matter the South Australian public should continue to discuss and I am framing up a way for those discussions to continue,” he said……..

It is understood several Cabinet ministers have become fundamentally opposed to storage, and previous backers believe the results of Mr Weatherill’s consultation process — centred on the citizens’ jury — had made any progress impossible……..

The Government has now received the results of further consultation in addition to the citizens’ jury report which includes a statewide survey, online comments and in-person feedback.

All show similarly negative or lukewarm support for pursuing nuclear storage in SA……..

Senator Nick Xenophon, who labelled nuclear waste storage in SA “a stinker of an idea”, said State Labor must take the proposal to the upcoming State Election before any referendum was held.

”It needs to be an election issue first, referendum second,” he said……..

“This is beginning to look like a waste of money at a time with the Government should be focusing on alternative policies to create that have community support such as those in agriculture, horticulture and manufacturing.”

Australian Conservation Foundation campaigner Dave Sweeney said Mr Weatherill’s refusal to bury the proposal was deeply disappointing and divisive…….

The government will present its full response to the royal commission to State Parliament tomorrow. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/premier-jay-weatherill-will-hold-referendum-on-potential-nuclear-waste-industry-in-south-australia/news-story/c5ee0bcf003c0a5000867674c5b03236?utm_content=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=EditorialSF&utm_source=AdelaideAdvertiser&utm_medium=Facebook