❓ A WA parliamentarian questions the Minister for Energy about a reported proposal for a small modular nuclear reactor in outback towns and the potential benefits, while accusing the minister of stifling discussion on nuclear power. The Minister denies awareness of the proposal and denies preventing discussion.
AnsweredQoN 1227Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NUCLEAR REACTOR PROPOSAL
1227. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the Minister
for Energy:
It has been reported that outback
towns are being targeted by a Canadian energy company that is proposing to
develop a small modular nuclear reactor to provide electricity, community
heating and purified water.
(1) Is the
minister aware of this proposal; and, if so, will the minister commit to a review
of the moratorium on nuclear power in light of this proposal?
(2) When the
company has offered to pay for the installation, management, decommissioning
and nuclear waste disposal, does the minister concede this will effectively be
a source of free power?
(3) Does the
minister acknowledge that the heat energy available from the reactor could be
used to purify water in outback Australia, where such purification processes
are desperately needed?
(4) Why is the
minister denying this chamber a genuine discussion on nuclear power as a suitable
resource for our state to use?
1227. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the Minister
for Energy:
It has been reported that outback
towns are being targeted by a Canadian energy company that is proposing to
develop a small modular nuclear reactor to provide electricity, community
heating and purified water.
(1) Is the
minister aware of this proposal; and, if so, will the minister commit to a review
of the moratorium on nuclear power in light of this proposal?
(2) When the
company has offered to pay for the installation, management, decommissioning
and nuclear waste disposal, does the minister concede this will effectively be
a source of free power?
(3) Does the
minister acknowledge that the heat energy available from the reactor could be
used to purify water in outback Australia, where such purification processes
are desperately needed?
(4) Why is the
minister denying this chamber a genuine discussion on nuclear power as a suitable
resource for our state to use?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Energy.
(1)–(3) The minister is not
aware of any proposal.
(4) The minister is not and has no
capacity to deny this chamber a discussion on any matter.
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Energy.
(1)–(3) The minister is not
aware of any proposal.
(4) The minister is not and has no
capacity to deny this chamber a discussion on any matter.
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