Government nuclear consultation misleading claim
Announcements from John Howard and Peter Costello that communities will be consulted about the siting of nuclear power stations are misleading, the ALP candidate for Indi, Zuvele Leschen, said today.
“Up until today, John Howard has very clearly said that the siting of nuclear power plants will be a decision made by industry,” Zuvele Leschen said. “Today – months, if not weeks, from an election – he backflips and says communities will have a say.”
“However, the catch, as always with the Prime Minister, is in the detail – they’ll be consulted in ten years’ time.”
The problem with this, Zuvele Leschen said, is that this means the community consultation will be last minute and therefore rushed and meaningless.
“We know that investors are looking seriously at nuclear power stations right now. We know that these investors have discussed their plans with the Prime Minister.”
“They won’t have done so without some idea in mind of where they want to build these plants.”
“It might take ten or more years for an actual nuclear power station to be up and running, but where those power plants will be must be decided a lot earlier than that.”
“What the Prime Minister is saying is that the investment will happen, the plans will be made, and then – at the last minute – the community will be consulted.”
“That’s just not good enough, especially for communities such as Albury Wodonga, which are prime candidates for such a development.”
“Consultation on the siting of nuclear power plants needs to be happening from the minute a planning proposal is on the table – and that’s going to be happening well before Mr Howard’s ten years is up.”
“Up until today, John Howard has very clearly said that the siting of nuclear power plants will be a decision made by industry,” Zuvele Leschen said. “Today – months, if not weeks, from an election – he backflips and says communities will have a say.”
“However, the catch, as always with the Prime Minister, is in the detail – they’ll be consulted in ten years’ time.”
The problem with this, Zuvele Leschen said, is that this means the community consultation will be last minute and therefore rushed and meaningless.
“We know that investors are looking seriously at nuclear power stations right now. We know that these investors have discussed their plans with the Prime Minister.”
“They won’t have done so without some idea in mind of where they want to build these plants.”
“It might take ten or more years for an actual nuclear power station to be up and running, but where those power plants will be must be decided a lot earlier than that.”
“What the Prime Minister is saying is that the investment will happen, the plans will be made, and then – at the last minute – the community will be consulted.”
“That’s just not good enough, especially for communities such as Albury Wodonga, which are prime candidates for such a development.”
“Consultation on the siting of nuclear power plants needs to be happening from the minute a planning proposal is on the table – and that’s going to be happening well before Mr Howard’s ten years is up.”
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posted by Greg Naylor at
7:14 PM
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