Nuclear Waste

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:00): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. Does the Independent minister support the Premier's proposed nuclear waste dump?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (15:01): In respect of the government's position in relation to this matter, there is a cabinet decision and all cabinet ministers support it. Let's remind those opposite what that decision is: it is to allow discussion—simply, to allow discussion. I know those opposite are getting very hot and sweaty about the events and—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —are getting very agitated, and it must create a lot of mental confusion to hold these two ideas in your head. Are we pro nuclear waste? Are we pro coal mining? Are we against renewables? This must be complex. I understand it creates a lot of cognitive dissonance inside the mind of a human being to hold two particularly inconsistent propositions at the same time. It is very difficult.

The Hon. J.J. Snelling: Brain arcing.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Yes, the brain arcing that has been going on opposite must be disturbing, and it is causing a lot of behavioural problems. That's why you are hearing loud noises emanating from the opposition benches and people are being sent out. But there is one position, and it is the position that has been articulated in the ministerial statement and I speak for the government in that regard. Of course, there is a diversity of views on the ultimate question but we—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: When the Leader of the Opposition said, 'Well, let's see what happens in the Liberal party room on Monday,' and then, within two hours, was out saying, 'The project is dead,' sadly for the member for Stuart he was out later that day saying, 'Let's see what happens in the party room.' So, the—

The SPEAKER: Point of order from the member for Hartley.

Mr TARZIA: Point of order, sir: relevance. This has absolutely no relevance to the question.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I think the Premier has probably completed his answer, and I uphold the member for Hartley's point of order. The member for Colton.