You are a prominent minister in the Howard Government. As Science Minister you are responsible for choosing the location for a national nuclear waste dump, and you oversee the nuclear research reactors at Lucas Heights. You hold a great deal of responsibility for the nuclear cycle in Australia.
The Howard Government has been spending the last year proclaiming loudly and proudly that nuclear power will be the answer to all of our climate change woes. While we welcome Mr Howard’s belated acknowledgement that climate change exists we are concerned as to why this has not been at the forefront of the election campaign and thought you might like to redress this.
We were wondering if you would like to explain to your electorate, a number of issues in relation to your role in the nuclear cycle?
- Why do you believe nuclear power should be developed in Australia, and where would you suggest we should site a future reactor in WA?
- Can you explain why the second research reactor in Sydney has been plagued by troubles and is still unoperational until some undisclosed date next year, at a cost of $400 million?
- Do you think this reflects poorly on Australia’s ability to build and operate the proposed 25 nuclear reactors, which you have as yet not advised the location of?
- What are your thoughts on the US initiated Global Nuclear Energy Partnership that Howard signed us up to being considered uneconomical and unviable by a panel commissioned by the US government?
- Can you explain why you described proposed nuclear waste dump sites as being “some distance from any form of civilization” when Aboriginal people live and work under five kilometres from some of them?
- Do you believe it is just to impose a nuclear waste dump on Aboriginal communities from which many family groups have expressed dissent and concern, and call it consultation and agreement?
- As Education Minister could you explain why you needed to add $1 million in education funding in exchange for hosting radioactive waste, and detail why Aboriginal people at Muckaty station (the 4th proposed waste dump site) are being singled out for this ‘special treatment’?
We would welcome a response on these issues of national concern and have also forwarded you a questionnaire on nuclear issues which we hope to advise your electorate of, so if you could return it that would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
David Worth and Jo Vallentine
The Anti Nuclear Alliance of WA
