Senate debates

Thursday, 19 March 2009

Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005

9:56 am

Photo of Scott LudlamScott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—
(a)
notes that:
(i)
an Environment, Communication and the Arts Committee inquiry found numerous and fundamental flaws in the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 and recommended in December 2008 that it be repealed, and
(ii)
the committee called for replacement legislation to be introduced into the parliament in the autumn 2009 sittings that would be based on principles of rigorous consultation, voluntary consent, environmental credibility, and which utilises best practice models tested internationally; and
(b)
calls on the Australian Government to:
(i)
repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 and introduce replacement legislation as outlined in Australian Labor Party (ALP) policy and subsequently recommended by the committee,
(ii)
deliver a process on radioactive waste that is scientific, transparent accountable, fair and allows access to appeal mechanisms, which is both an election promise and a stated policy position of the ALP, and
(iii)
update the Senate as to the Government’s intended timetable for the introduction of the repeal and replacement legislation.

Question put.