Question Time

Nuclear Waste

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Given the significant objections of Aboriginal communities across South Australia to the use of their sacred lands to store nuclear waste, does the minister support the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in South Australia, as being pursued by the Premier?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:30): I thank the honourable member for his question in relation to Aboriginal communities' views. I absolutely and completely support the Premier's statement that if ever this was to be pursued, local Aboriginal communities would have a right of veto over any such proposal. I think that is the correct and the right thing to do. Certainly, it is something that I think accords with the views of Aboriginal communities that I have visited.

Over the last week, I think I have travelled about 5,000 kilometres visiting Aboriginal communities, including Pipalyatjara, Kalka, Nyapari, Amata, Umuwa, Pukatja, Mimili, Kaltjiti, Iwantja, Kenmore Park, Shirley Well, Amuroona and Railway Bore, and that is something that is quite clear, that they want to be involved in the decisions that affect them. So, having a right of veto I think is absolutely the right thing to do.

The weekend before my recent trip to the APY lands, I spent on the Far West Coast, in Ceduna, Scotdesco and Yalata. The weekend before that, I was in Adnyamathanha country at Iga Warta, talking to the Nepabunna and Copley communities as well, and the week before that in the South-East, particularly Camp Coorong, with the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority. The message I get is that Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal people want to be involved in the decisions that affect them, so I absolutely support the Premier's statement that if this ever progressed, which would require at first instance a bipartisan approach, local Aboriginal communities would have a right of veto.