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Media Release
FEDERAL PARLIAMENT PASSES LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THE RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE
9 December 2005 MIN 2063/05
Australia has made a significant move towards the responsible management of radioactive waste in this country, with last night’s passage through the Federal Parliament of the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2005.
This legislation puts beyond doubt the Commonwealth’s authority to make arrangements for the safe and secure management of the small quantity of low and intermediate level radioactive waste produced by Commonwealth agencies as a by-product of medical, scientific and industrial processes.
It will prevent opportunistic attempts to use legal processes to frustrate the establishment of the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Facility, and the Government will now proceed with field assessments of three potential facility sites in the Northern Territory early next year.
Importantly, the legislation also provides for other sites in the Northern Territory to be nominated for siting the facility. These provisions were included in response to sensible and far-sighted contributions from the Northern Land Council.
I would also like to congratulate my colleagues Senator Nigel Scullion and the Member for Solomon, Mr David Tollner MP, for their tireless efforts on behalf of Northern Territorians and all Australians.
The legislation clearly stipulates that, after the selection of a site, Commonwealth regulatory processes under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987 must be complied with.
Each year over 400,000 Australian patients benefit from a medical radioisotope produced in the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANSTO) research reactor at Lucas Heights, including procedures used in the detection and treatment of cancer. All Australians, at least once throughout their life, will benefit from a medical procedure using medical radioisotopes.
The Australian Government is fully committed to establishing this facility, consistent with its responsible attitude to the management of its radioactive waste. It is equally important that all State and Territory Governments do the same in relation to their waste as a matter of priority.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Sally-Anne Harris 02 6240 8363
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