The majority of a Citizens’ Jury forming part of South Australia’s community consultation in response to the state’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission Report feels the state should not pursue the opportunity to store and dispose of nuclear waste under any circumstances. The 350 jurors were tasked with answering the question “Under what circumstances, if any, could South Australia pursue the opportunity to store and dispose of nuclear waste from other countries?” It delivered its final report to state premier Jay Weatherill yesterday after six days of deliberations – spread over three weekends in October and November – during which jurors heard from more than 100 witnesses including environmental, economics, safety and industry experts, as well as community and Aboriginal representation. According to the jury’s final report, two-thirds of its members did not wish to pursue the nuclear waste opportunity “under any circumstances” while a third supported “a commitment to pursue” under circumstances outlined in the report. The jury’s rejection of the proposal was based on its opinion that it had insufficient information to support a “yes” vote; a lack of aboriginal consent for the proposal; and the jury’s lack of confidence in the economic case presented for such a project.
World Nuclear News 7th Nov 2016 read more »
Faced with a clear but controversial recommendation from its Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, the South Australian government has sought to reach out to its citizens with information and consultation to test the waters on how to proceed. The objective of the Royal Commission’s recommendation is purely commercial, boldly to seize an opportunity to rescue the state from economic impoverishment. But the means is not intrinsically appealing to all, writes Ian Hore-Lacy. In South Australia, to widespread surprise, a left-of-centre state premier in March 2015 set up a major inquiry into the nuclear fuel cycle, and in particular whether the impoverished state might make some worthwhile money by importing and disposing of high-level nuclear wastes (HLW), notably used fuel. But it wasn’t just an inquiry, it was a Royal Commission, with power to rigorously test the evidence submitted. It was headed by a former state governor and Rear Admiral, Kevin Scarce.
World Nuclear News 7th Nov 2016 read more »