WHYALLA RARE EARTHS COMPLEX

The Hon. M. PARNELL (14:52): Notwithstanding that the minister said that it is early days and the EIS has not yet been commissioned, has Arafura advised the government how it intends to manage, store and dispose of the long-lived radioactive processing waste that will come from the plant, which I understand will be up to 680,000 tonnes a year? In particular, will the waste be returned to the mine site in the Northern Territory or will it be disposed of here in South Australia?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (14:52): My understanding is that some of that waste will be returned to the mine site but, obviously, that will depend on the chemical processing of it and the nature of that particular waste. I will seek a more detailed answer for the honourable member.