Nuclear Waste

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:57): I had the opportunity last week to meet with representatives of the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association, Regina and Vivianne McKenzie, Heather Stewart and Cat Eaton. They wanted to brief me with regard to their association's view, along with that of the Viliwarinha Yura Aboriginal Corporation (VYAC) and the Yappala Group of Properties (YGP). This was about the commonwealth government's search for a national waste facility under the National Radioactive Waste Management Act (NRWMA).

Despite South Australia's current laws about there not being support for intermediate-level waste to be stored in this state, under the federal NRWMA, the federal resources minister can override any state or territory with regard to legislation. The most dangerous waste in Australia is classified as long-lived intermediate-level waste, and I understand that this waste needs to be kept safe for thousands of years or more.

At present, there is a need reported for over 500 cubic metres of intermediate-level waste. As my friends told me today, if Aboriginal people 40,000 or 45,000 years ago had nuclear waste, we would still be managing that waste today. I think they make a very pertinent point in the current debate about nuclear waste. I also understand that it is proposed that this level of waste will not be buried but kept in dry storage in a large above-ground shed.

Australia's most hazardous waste is produced at Lucas Heights and a small amount of intermediate-level waste is generated from the health sector, industry and universities. The Lucas Heights nuclear reactor's fuel rods are sent overseas for processing and reprocessing, and that waste is returned to Australia. I am also advised that the first shipment came back to Australia in December 2015 and was taken to Lucas Heights for storage.

My information is that medical and scientific institutions produce a very low level of radioactive waste in Australia and could be stored also at Lucas Heights, so concerns are now being raised at Wallerberdina and Barndioota, Flinders Ranges (or what is commonly known as the Willie Wagtail home), being short-listed as a site for a possible national nuclear waste dump. I quote in part the submission of Ms Regina McKenzie on behalf of the VYAC. She says, amongst some other very important points, that their corporation:

…is located in South Australia, approximately 350km north of Adelaide, and approximately 6km northwest of Hawker. [This area] consists of 5 pastoral stations, 4 of which have been declared as Indigenous Protected Areas…administered by the South Australian Aboriginal Lands Trust...

We view this proposal as an attack on our cultural beliefs, history and heritage. We do not want this waste dump on our ancestors' yata [which means land]. Our mudah is our past, our present and our future. No is a very simple word in…English…and we are wondering why people are struggling to understand the simplicity of the word 'No'.

Our history in this area goes back to pre-European settlement, and since settlement our people have had traditional access to this land for generations because of its significance to our culture.

This area is part of an ancient...trading route, this is why there is a high density of archaeological sites within this area. Our community has worked with the Aboriginal Affairs Reconciliation Division of South Australia...in recording Aboriginal…heritage sites and artefacts in this area, and this is…an ongoing process.

In the years…to date we have found thousands of artefacts as well as calcified human remains of great archaeological significance (see Scribe Archaeology Cultural Landscape Mapping Report 2015).

That report was enclosed in their submission. There are many other issues that I do not have time to address, but I wish to represent the views of these women, who are very important leaders in their community.