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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-09-27 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

Nuclear Waste

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is called to order.

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned.

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned a second and a final time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I am holding a document, sir, that might embarrass the member for Schubert one day, but I might just keep that up my sleeve. Last week, I travelled to Finland to gain a better understanding about its nuclear industry, in particular the disposal of spent fuel and the community's attitude to the industry there.

Also travelling with me as part of the delegation was Jonathon Kenna, Ambassador Designate for Sweden and Finland; John Mansfield, chair of the NFCRC Community Engagement and Response Agency Advisory Board; Madeleine Richardson, chief executive of the agency; and Bill Muirhead, South Australia's Agent General in London.

We visited Eurajoki, the municipality on the west coast of Finland, where there are currently two nuclear energy reactors operating and a third under construction, as well as an operating low and intermediate-level spent fuel depository. This is also the site on which they are constructing the Onkalo high-level spent fuel disposal facility. We met with leaders of the local community, who shared with us the history of the journey they have taken which has enabled the high-level facility to be established at Eurajoki.

The community's support in Finland is premised on their responsibility to dispose of the waste that they produce from their own nuclear energy reactors. What we are proposing for South Australia is starting from an entirely different premise, and we are looking at the economic opportunity from disposing spent fuel from other countries. This is the fundamental question that our community needs to contemplate as we consider the opportunity.

We undertook a site visit of the Onkalo facility, which is 420 metres underground. It is here that lead canisters containing the spent fuel encased in five-centimetre thick copper canisters will be stored. Having witnessed the scientific approach to the analysis of the geology and the processes in place, it is clear to me that high-level spent fuel can be stored safely. It is also evident that South Australia's mining and construction capabilities position us well to deliver on a large-scale project of this nature.

These existing strengths, such as ventilation companies, data sharing and machinery, could help to unlock the value chain. It is also clear that, following the detailed experience that the Finnish process has been through, considerable time and costs could be saved by adopting some of their existing technology.

We had an insightful meeting with Olli Rehn, the Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment, regarding the nuclear industry and also broader energy policy. The role of a regulator is critical, and the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) is well respected and has built trust by having a clear role definition, operating transparently and being open about risks, communicating in a way that people understand and working cooperatively with the media.

The experience in Finland demonstrates the need for clear milestones with long-term and stable policies that are supported by all sides of politics to sustain progress for the duration of the project. To this end, I would repeat my offer to support the Leader of the Opposition visiting Finland in the near future.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is called to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The visit was very informative and something that, along with the feedback from the current community consultation process and the deliberations of the upcoming citizens' jury, will inform the government's response to the royal commission's report.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is called to order.

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