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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-11-16 Daily Xml
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Nuclear Waste

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Police in relation to the nuclear waste dump.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Yesterday, the minister claimed that there had been bipartisan support for a nuclear waste dump in South Australia. I note the fact that the recent state ALP convention failed to endorse a nuclear waste dump. On Monday of this week, the SA Unions secretary labelled the Premier's nuclear referendum as 'a crazy or brave move from a tone-deaf leader'. I ask the minister: can the minister name a single political party in South Australia which is committed to pursuing a nuclear waste dump?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:33): I will answer the last question first. I thank the honourable member for his questions. There isn't currently a political party in the South Australian parliament that is actively supporting the pursuit of a nuclear waste dump, simply because the Liberal Party—the opposition—killed it. They killed an opportunity in this state to have a decent, well thought through, thorough debate—a thorough debate. This party of government is committed to a decent, thorough, consultative debate with the South Australian public, provided it has bipartisan support.

The concept of having a decent discussion within the community is something that we relish. We like the idea of that, provided that it has bipartisan support. At the first test of political conviction, the opposition and the Leader of the Opposition have failed that test. They have failed to give the South Australian people an opportunity to have a decent discussion and thorough political debate about a potential opportunity for the state.

I have to say that the Leader of the Opposition and all of his backbench colleagues, who have abandoned principle and conviction at the first opportunity, have broken the hearts of so many South Australians who actually like the idea of having a leader who is open to having a public consultation and a debate. It is an appalling representation on a whole range of applicants who aspire to higher office. They can't and aren't willing to hear the South Australian public's views because they have killed it at the first opportunity. Shame on them.

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