Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
4:54 pm
Mr President, I seek leave to recommit motion No. 1001 standing in my name for today relating to a nuclear waste dump in Kimba or Hawker.
Scott Ryan President
Is leave granted for Senator Hanson-Young to undertake a similar procedure with respect to motion No. 1001?
Leave granted.
Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1001, which relates to a nuclear waste dump in Kimba or Hawker, be taken as a formal motion.
Scott Ryan President
Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?
Barry O'Sullivan Queensland, National Party
I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.
Barry O'Sullivan Queensland, National Party
We are in a cloud of confusion.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Barry O'Sullivan Queensland, National Party
We're in a cloud of confusion that—
Honourable senators interjecting—
Scott Ryan President
Order! Stop the clock. This is a busy section of the day. It will get more difficult for all senators if it is not conducted with decorum.
Senator Whish-Wilson interjecting—
Senator Whish-Wilson, please keep quiet while I am ruling. Please hear Senator O'Sullivan in silence.
Barry O'Sullivan Queensland, National Party
There's a cloud of confusion—it's thickest over there on that side—and I don't understand circumstances that are very clear. They're citing confusion in order to request reconsideration of a motion. This I understand—that they are confused. But does this mean that I'll be able to seek leave to move the motion I tried moving the other day, when I was denied formality, and have it considered again? I'll wait till this is resolved, but am I able to do that?
Scott Ryan President
Senator O'Sullivan, anything can be done by leave of the Senate, as a general principle, so—
Senator O'Sullivan interjecting—
I can't deal with that while this matter is before the Senate, Senator O'Sullivan. I have to ask: is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal? There being none, I call Senator Hanson-Young to move the motion.
Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
4:56 pm
I move—
That the Senate:
(a) notes that communities in Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Port Pirie are seriously concerned they have no opportunity to participate in the ballot process to determine the extent of broad community support for the proposed nuclear waste dump in Kimba or Hawker;
(b) further notes that, if the site selection process is successful, these communities will see their roads, streets and waters become thoroughfares for low and intermediate level nuclear material for decades to come; and
(c) calls on the Federal Government to broaden the community consultation process to include disenfranchised Barngarla Native Title Holders, and communities living along proposed transportation routes, so that all affected communities have their chance to have their say.
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
I seek leave to make a short statement.
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
The site selection process has placed communities at its centre from the very beginning and explicitly includes the traditional owners of land in each community, with whom we have talked extensively about all aspects of the project. No group has been excluded. Once a preferred site is found and experts have identified possible transport routes, we will consult with those communities about the movement of waste materials. There are over 2,000 safe and secure movements of nuclear materials from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation each month, through communities all across Australia, and all movement is regulated by our independent national regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, to ensure safety.
Scott Ryan President
The question is that the motion moved by Senator Hanson-Young be agreed to.