Nuclear energy inquiry draws emotional response in Port Augusta
The Liberal Party intends to follow the United States' lead when it comes to introducing nuclear energy. (Four Corners: Ryan Sheridan)
In short:
The select committee conducting an inquiry into nuclear power generation in Australia has triggered strong opinions from both sides of the fence.
Aboriginal leaders, resident representatives, and leaders from the mining and energy sector have spoken during a hearing at Port Augusta.
What's next?
Should the opposition win the next election, it has promised to hold a two-and-a-half year consultation period over its nuclear plans.
The federal government's select committee inquiry into nuclear power generation at Port Augusta has stirred strong emotions among those making a submission.
For anti-nuclear activist and Yankunytjatjara Anangu woman Karina Lester, it is a debate she is tired of having.
Karina Lester says Indigenous people have seen the impacts of nuclear technology first-hand. (Supplied)
"Governments change, committee members change … organisations, company members, CEOs of companies change," Ms Lester said.
"Those of us that are in the frontline are constantly needing to remind governments of the impacts of nuclear in our communities.
"Aboriginal people of South Australia have always said no to nuclear."
Ms Lester, who gave evidence at a select committee hearing in Adelaide, describes herself as a survivor of the Emu Field nuclear tests.
She said Indigenous people had seen the impacts of nuclear technology first-hand.
Her father, Yami Lester, went blind at the age of 16 following British weapons testing in Maralinga in South Australia in the 1950s.
Ms Lester said she feared Indigenous groups would suffer if the federal opposition's nuclear plans went ahead.
Flinders Local Action Group members giving evidence. (ABC North & West SA: Annabel Francis)
"Aboriginal communities are always the solution or pressured to be the solution for the waste issues," she said.
"The history shows us that locations identified are locations that are First Nations or Aboriginal people's traditional lands."
Port Augusta's former coal power station was one of seven sites that was earmarked as a possible location for the opposition's nuclear energy plan.
A site in Port Augusta has been selected as a possible location for nuclear. (ABC News: James Wakelin)
The Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation, which holds native title over the proposed site, has voiced strong opposition to any nuclear proposal.
"Aboriginal people throughout the region and state of South Australia have historically and overwhelmingly opposed nuclear energy, and the storage of its waste," a spokesperson said.
Greg Bannon from the Flinders Local Action Group gave evidence at the public hearing in Port Augusta about the potential risk of a nuclear accident.
He has opposed nuclear technology for decades and said the time to switch to nuclear energy had passed.
"I think it's old technology, and I don't think we need it," he said.
Mr Bannon said any accident or error would not only have a devastating impact on the local community but also on vulnerable marine ecologies, such as the giant Australian cuttlefish that aggregates about 50 kilometres away from Port Augusta.
Greg Bannon says the accident risk for nuclear energy is too high. (ABC North & West SA: Annabel Francis)
Economic opportunities
Hallett Group, which is a major supplier of building, construction and mining materials, and operates on the proposed Port Augusta site, was asked to speak as a witness at the committee hearing held on Friday.
General manager of operations at Port Augusta's Hallett Group Craig Cresp said assuming the economic viability stacked up, the company would support nuclear energy as a cost-saving measure for future generations.
Craig Cresp says nuclear could provide economic benefits. (ABC North & West SA: Annabel Francis)
"If nuclear is the solution for us to gain a cheaper solution, then why wouldn't we explore, and why wouldn't we look to accept it?" he said.
South Australian Chamber of Mining and Energy chief executive Rebecca Knol said it was past time Australia looked into a nuclear future.
"We are the only G20 nation that has a prohibition on nuclear," she said.
"We won't have solved our decarbonisation issues in 10 years.
Rebecca Knol says Australia should plan for nuclear. (Supplied)
“If we don't start planning for nuclear, we are going to de-industrialise our nation because it will be cheaper to produce steel, glass … everything offshore.”
Ms Knol said fears regarding the word "nuclear" had become mythological.
"We provide 28 per cent of the world's uranium," she said.
"We have boasted a 35-year unblemished record of safe uranium handling and transportation.
"We host one of the only ports in the nation that is approved for the export of uranium products, and we have an exceptionally well developed regulatory regime which governs the uranium supply chain."
The committee has been travelling around Australia to hear evidence and submissions from several metropolitan and regional communities.
Should the opposition win the next election it has promised to hold a two-and-a-half-year consultation period over its nuclear plans.