❓ The Premier outlines the government's opposition to the Commonwealth's nuclear energy review, emphasizing WA's stance against nuclear waste and promoting geothermal energy as an alternative.
AnsweredQoN 857Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COMMONWEALTH URANIUM MINING AND PROCESSING AND NUCLEAR ENERGY REVIEW
Can the Premier outline the government’s response to the commonwealth’s uranium mining and processing and nuclear energy review? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Can the Premier outline the government’s response to the commonwealth’s uranium mining and processing and nuclear energy review? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. A very interesting report was released today by Dr Ziggy Switkowski and his team, and I have had an opportunity to consider some of the major points in the report. It is clear that the Prime Minister is pushing a particular agenda, and we know what it is - to drive Australia down the nuclear pathway. I met Ziggy Switkowski and his team while they were in Western Australia. We had a very interesting discussion about the viability of the nuclear industry in Western Australia. I assessed their reaction to the viability of the nuclear industry as zero. However, Mr Howard and some of his Western Australian federal and state Liberal colleagues clearly want a nuclear industry for this state, irrespective of the wishes of ordinary Western Australians, who have made it clear that they do not want a nuclear industry. According to reports, Mr Switkowski’s panel highlights the increasing importance of nuclear power as a potential fuel for Australia. Apparently Australia should embrace nuclear power and seek to value-add at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. That means enrichment, power stations and nuclear waste dumps. The report refers to the possibility of nuclear waste dumps. The real question is: where would the nuclear power stations be located? I think they are advocating that there could be 15 to 20 nuclear power stations. Given the federal government’s predilection, at least one would be earmarked for Western Australia. I do not believe that we can trust John Howard or his government to respect the wishes of the Western Australian people, who hold a contrary view. We have only to look at what has been unfolding with the commonwealth’s encroachment on state powers through the High Court decisions to see where we are headed. Before the last federal election, Mr Howard said his government would locate a nuclear waste dump on a commonwealth-owned offshore island, not in a mainland state or territory. After the election the government changed its mind and decided to force a nuclear waste dump on the people of the Northern Territory. Last year the commonwealth passed legislation to override any state and territory laws that would be an obstacle to its nuclear waste dump plans. The commonwealth also legislated to put its decisions beyond the reach of judicial review. The width of the powers the commonwealth has given itself to override state laws is alarming and it should alarm - I think it does - the majority of Western Australians, or those who take notice. Through its decision on industrial relations, the High Court has just confirmed the ability of the commonwealth to trample over the free Federation, the community and the properly elected state governments in this way. This Parliament passed the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act in 1999 with bipartisan support. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste as well as storage. WA has democratically decided not to allow the transport, storage or disposal of nuclear waste generated in other jurisdictions in Western Australia. The legislation represents the expressed will of the Western Australian people. Nuclear energy is not the answer to climate change. We do not need nuclear energy in our battle against climate change. We do need to address climate change but we do not need to place our working people, our children or our environment at risk with a nuclear industry. Last week I announced that the government would legislate to pave the way for clean, safe, zero-emission geothermal energy - hot rocks. It is a marvellous new opportunity. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. A very interesting report was released today by Dr Ziggy Switkowski and his team, and I have had an opportunity to consider some of the major points in the report. It is clear that the Prime Minister is pushing a particular agenda, and we know what it is - to drive Australia down the nuclear pathway. I met Ziggy Switkowski and his team while they were in Western Australia. We had a very interesting discussion about the viability of the nuclear industry in Western Australia. I assessed their reaction to the viability of the nuclear industry as zero. However, Mr Howard and some of his Western Australian federal and state Liberal colleagues clearly want a nuclear industry for this state, irrespective of the wishes of ordinary Western Australians, who have made it clear that they do not want a nuclear industry. According to reports, Mr Switkowski’s panel highlights the increasing importance of nuclear power as a potential fuel for Australia. Apparently Australia should embrace nuclear power and seek to value-add at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. That means enrichment, power stations and nuclear waste dumps. The report refers to the possibility of nuclear waste dumps. The real question is: where would the nuclear power stations be located? I think they are advocating that there could be 15 to 20 nuclear power stations. Given the federal government’s predilection, at least one would be earmarked for Western Australia. I do not believe that we can trust John Howard or his government to respect the wishes of the Western Australian people, who hold a contrary view. We have only to look at what has been unfolding with the commonwealth’s encroachment on state powers through the High Court decisions to see where we are headed. Before the last federal election, Mr Howard said his government would locate a nuclear waste dump on a commonwealth-owned offshore island, not in a mainland state or territory. After the election the government changed its mind and decided to force a nuclear waste dump on the people of the Northern Territory. Last year the commonwealth passed legislation to override any state and territory laws that would be an obstacle to its nuclear waste dump plans. The commonwealth also legislated to put its decisions beyond the reach of judicial review. The width of the powers the commonwealth has given itself to override state laws is alarming and it should alarm - I think it does - the majority of Western Australians, or those who take notice. Through its decision on industrial relations, the High Court has just confirmed the ability of the commonwealth to trample over the free Federation, the community and the properly elected state governments in this way. This Parliament passed the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act in 1999 with bipartisan support. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste as well as storage. WA has democratically decided not to allow the transport, storage or disposal of nuclear waste generated in other jurisdictions in Western Australia. The legislation represents the expressed will of the Western Australian people. Nuclear energy is not the answer to climate change. We do not need nuclear energy in our battle against climate change. We do need to address climate change but we do not need to place our working people, our children or our environment at risk with a nuclear industry. Last week I announced that the government would legislate to pave the way for clean, safe, zero-emission geothermal energy - hot rocks. It is a marvellous new opportunity. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
I thank the member for the question. A very interesting report was released today by Dr Ziggy Switkowski and his team, and I have had an opportunity to consider some of the major points in the report. It is clear that the Prime Minister is pushing a particular agenda, and we know what it is - to drive Australia down the nuclear pathway. I met Ziggy Switkowski and his team while they were in Western Australia. We had a very interesting discussion about the viability of the nuclear industry in Western Australia. I assessed their reaction to the viability of the nuclear industry as zero. However, Mr Howard and some of his Western Australian federal and state Liberal colleagues clearly want a nuclear industry for this state, irrespective of the wishes of ordinary Western Australians, who have made it clear that they do not want a nuclear industry. According to reports, Mr Switkowski’s panel highlights the increasing importance of nuclear power as a potential fuel for Australia. Apparently Australia should embrace nuclear power and seek to value-add at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. That means enrichment, power stations and nuclear waste dumps. The report refers to the possibility of nuclear waste dumps. The real question is: where would the nuclear power stations be located? I think they are advocating that there could be 15 to 20 nuclear power stations. Given the federal government’s predilection, at least one would be earmarked for Western Australia. I do not believe that we can trust John Howard or his government to respect the wishes of the Western Australian people, who hold a contrary view. We have only to look at what has been unfolding with the commonwealth’s encroachment on state powers through the High Court decisions to see where we are headed. Before the last federal election, Mr Howard said his government would locate a nuclear waste dump on a commonwealth-owned offshore island, not in a mainland state or territory. After the election the government changed its mind and decided to force a nuclear waste dump on the people of the Northern Territory. Last year the commonwealth passed legislation to override any state and territory laws that would be an obstacle to its nuclear waste dump plans. The commonwealth also legislated to put its decisions beyond the reach of judicial review. The width of the powers the commonwealth has given itself to override state laws is alarming and it should alarm - I think it does - the majority of Western Australians, or those who take notice. Through its decision on industrial relations, the High Court has just confirmed the ability of the commonwealth to trample over the free Federation, the community and the properly elected state governments in this way. This Parliament passed the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act in 1999 with bipartisan support. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste as well as storage. WA has democratically decided not to allow the transport, storage or disposal of nuclear waste generated in other jurisdictions in Western Australia. The legislation represents the expressed will of the Western Australian people. Nuclear energy is not the answer to climate change. We do not need nuclear energy in our battle against climate change. We do need to address climate change but we do not need to place our working people, our children or our environment at risk with a nuclear industry. Last week I announced that the government would legislate to pave the way for clean, safe, zero-emission geothermal energy - hot rocks. It is a marvellous new opportunity. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Before the last federal election, Mr Howard said his government would locate a nuclear waste dump on a commonwealth-owned offshore island, not in a mainland state or territory. After the election the government changed its mind and decided to force a nuclear waste dump on the people of the Northern Territory. Last year the commonwealth passed legislation to override any state and territory laws that would be an obstacle to its nuclear waste dump plans. The commonwealth also legislated to put its decisions beyond the reach of judicial review. The width of the powers the commonwealth has given itself to override state laws is alarming and it should alarm - I think it does - the majority of Western Australians, or those who take notice. Through its decision on industrial relations, the High Court has just confirmed the ability of the commonwealth to trample over the free Federation, the community and the properly elected state governments in this way. This Parliament passed the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act in 1999 with bipartisan support. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste as well as storage. WA has democratically decided not to allow the transport, storage or disposal of nuclear waste generated in other jurisdictions in Western Australia. The legislation represents the expressed will of the Western Australian people. Nuclear energy is not the answer to climate change. We do not need nuclear energy in our battle against climate change. We do need to address climate change but we do not need to place our working people, our children or our environment at risk with a nuclear industry. Last week I announced that the government would legislate to pave the way for clean, safe, zero-emission geothermal energy - hot rocks. It is a marvellous new opportunity. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Last week I announced that the government would legislate to pave the way for clean, safe, zero-emission geothermal energy - hot rocks. It is a marvellous new opportunity. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. A very interesting report was released today by Dr Ziggy Switkowski and his team, and I have had an opportunity to consider some of the major points in the report. It is clear that the Prime Minister is pushing a particular agenda, and we know what it is - to drive Australia down the nuclear pathway. I met Ziggy Switkowski and his team while they were in Western Australia. We had a very interesting discussion about the viability of the nuclear industry in Western Australia. I assessed their reaction to the viability of the nuclear industry as zero. However, Mr Howard and some of his Western Australian federal and state Liberal colleagues clearly want a nuclear industry for this state, irrespective of the wishes of ordinary Western Australians, who have made it clear that they do not want a nuclear industry. According to reports, Mr Switkowski’s panel highlights the increasing importance of nuclear power as a potential fuel for Australia. Apparently Australia should embrace nuclear power and seek to value-add at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. That means enrichment, power stations and nuclear waste dumps. The report refers to the possibility of nuclear waste dumps. The real question is: where would the nuclear power stations be located? I think they are advocating that there could be 15 to 20 nuclear power stations. Given the federal government’s predilection, at least one would be earmarked for Western Australia. I do not believe that we can trust John Howard or his government to respect the wishes of the Western Australian people, who hold a contrary view. We have only to look at what has been unfolding with the commonwealth’s encroachment on state powers through the High Court decisions to see where we are headed. Before the last federal election, Mr Howard said his government would locate a nuclear waste dump on a commonwealth-owned offshore island, not in a mainland state or territory. After the election the government changed its mind and decided to force a nuclear waste dump on the people of the Northern Territory. Last year the commonwealth passed legislation to override any state and territory laws that would be an obstacle to its nuclear waste dump plans. The commonwealth also legislated to put its decisions beyond the reach of judicial review. The width of the powers the commonwealth has given itself to override state laws is alarming and it should alarm - I think it does - the majority of Western Australians, or those who take notice. Through its decision on industrial relations, the High Court has just confirmed the ability of the commonwealth to trample over the free Federation, the community and the properly elected state governments in this way. This Parliament passed the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act in 1999 with bipartisan support. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste as well as storage. WA has democratically decided not to allow the transport, storage or disposal of nuclear waste generated in other jurisdictions in Western Australia. The legislation represents the expressed will of the Western Australian people. Nuclear energy is not the answer to climate change. We do not need nuclear energy in our battle against climate change. We do need to address climate change but we do not need to place our working people, our children or our environment at risk with a nuclear industry. Last week I announced that the government would legislate to pave the way for clean, safe, zero-emission geothermal energy - hot rocks. It is a marvellous new opportunity. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
I thank the member for the question. A very interesting report was released today by Dr Ziggy Switkowski and his team, and I have had an opportunity to consider some of the major points in the report. It is clear that the Prime Minister is pushing a particular agenda, and we know what it is - to drive Australia down the nuclear pathway. I met Ziggy Switkowski and his team while they were in Western Australia. We had a very interesting discussion about the viability of the nuclear industry in Western Australia. I assessed their reaction to the viability of the nuclear industry as zero. However, Mr Howard and some of his Western Australian federal and state Liberal colleagues clearly want a nuclear industry for this state, irrespective of the wishes of ordinary Western Australians, who have made it clear that they do not want a nuclear industry. According to reports, Mr Switkowski’s panel highlights the increasing importance of nuclear power as a potential fuel for Australia. Apparently Australia should embrace nuclear power and seek to value-add at every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. That means enrichment, power stations and nuclear waste dumps. The report refers to the possibility of nuclear waste dumps. The real question is: where would the nuclear power stations be located? I think they are advocating that there could be 15 to 20 nuclear power stations. Given the federal government’s predilection, at least one would be earmarked for Western Australia. I do not believe that we can trust John Howard or his government to respect the wishes of the Western Australian people, who hold a contrary view. We have only to look at what has been unfolding with the commonwealth’s encroachment on state powers through the High Court decisions to see where we are headed. Before the last federal election, Mr Howard said his government would locate a nuclear waste dump on a commonwealth-owned offshore island, not in a mainland state or territory. After the election the government changed its mind and decided to force a nuclear waste dump on the people of the Northern Territory. Last year the commonwealth passed legislation to override any state and territory laws that would be an obstacle to its nuclear waste dump plans. The commonwealth also legislated to put its decisions beyond the reach of judicial review. The width of the powers the commonwealth has given itself to override state laws is alarming and it should alarm - I think it does - the majority of Western Australians, or those who take notice. Through its decision on industrial relations, the High Court has just confirmed the ability of the commonwealth to trample over the free Federation, the community and the properly elected state governments in this way. This Parliament passed the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act in 1999 with bipartisan support. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste as well as storage. WA has democratically decided not to allow the transport, storage or disposal of nuclear waste generated in other jurisdictions in Western Australia. The legislation represents the expressed will of the Western Australian people. Nuclear energy is not the answer to climate change. We do not need nuclear energy in our battle against climate change. We do need to address climate change but we do not need to place our working people, our children or our environment at risk with a nuclear industry. Last week I announced that the government would legislate to pave the way for clean, safe, zero-emission geothermal energy - hot rocks. It is a marvellous new opportunity. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Before the last federal election, Mr Howard said his government would locate a nuclear waste dump on a commonwealth-owned offshore island, not in a mainland state or territory. After the election the government changed its mind and decided to force a nuclear waste dump on the people of the Northern Territory. Last year the commonwealth passed legislation to override any state and territory laws that would be an obstacle to its nuclear waste dump plans. The commonwealth also legislated to put its decisions beyond the reach of judicial review. The width of the powers the commonwealth has given itself to override state laws is alarming and it should alarm - I think it does - the majority of Western Australians, or those who take notice. Through its decision on industrial relations, the High Court has just confirmed the ability of the commonwealth to trample over the free Federation, the community and the properly elected state governments in this way. This Parliament passed the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act in 1999 with bipartisan support. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste as well as storage. WA has democratically decided not to allow the transport, storage or disposal of nuclear waste generated in other jurisdictions in Western Australia. The legislation represents the expressed will of the Western Australian people. Nuclear energy is not the answer to climate change. We do not need nuclear energy in our battle against climate change. We do need to address climate change but we do not need to place our working people, our children or our environment at risk with a nuclear industry. Last week I announced that the government would legislate to pave the way for clean, safe, zero-emission geothermal energy - hot rocks. It is a marvellous new opportunity. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Last week I announced that the government would legislate to pave the way for clean, safe, zero-emission geothermal energy - hot rocks. It is a marvellous new opportunity. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Where would the member like his hot rocks? Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I thought the member was supportive. Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr J.H.D. Day : I’m not saying that I’m not supportive. I’m just asking where that would be. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have called for expressions of interest so that people may come forward. We released some detail at the time. I will get that for the member. The week before last, I opened the Emu Downs Wind Farm, a great development at Cervantes. Those beautiful big sails are 41 metres across, generating energy for our desalination plant. That is a marvellous thing. This government is looking to the future by bringing together renewable energy and a clean, rainfall-independent water supply. Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr C.J. Barnett : What about your ministers? Are you going to recycle a few? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member would know about recycling. We are in the process of developing a climate change action plan, set for release in the first quarter of 2007. We are getting behind WA’s enormous potential for clean, renewable power from wind. There is a lot of potential for wave-generated power; marvellous potential. Other alternatives include solar energy, biofuels and geothermal energy which, as people will know, we have been using to heat the swimming pools at Challenge Stadium for the past couple of years. That was another very far-sighted initiative. The future for Western Australia is not John Howard’s nuclear-fuelled future. I would like to find out from the Leader of the Opposition whether he supports nuclear-fuelled energy for Western Australia’s future.
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