Open door for nuclear waste

Open door for nuclear waste

CANBERRA — The Senate has passed a bill which will allow Australia to become an international nuclear waste dump, says Greenpeace. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Bill, supported on June 18 by the federal government and the opposition, will override state, territory and local government environmental law.

"It is now possible for uranium to be exported from Australia and reimported as spent fuel", said Greenpeace spokesperson Ian Fry.

Democrat Senator Karin Sowada attempted to move a number of amendments to the bill, including one which would have prohibited the import of nuclear waste. The amendments were rejected.

"It is an absolute tragedy that this bill has now passed through parliament", said Fry. "It will carry with it a legacy of possible nuclear disasters for years and years to come."

From GLW issue 60