[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Nuclear 'responsibility' extends beyond short term cash grab

[Greens]

Media Release
9 August 2006

Nuclear 'responsibility' extends beyond short term cash grab

Yesterday's extraordinary claim by Mineral Resources Minister, Paul Holloway that 'Australia has a responsibility to the world to exploit its uranium deposits' betrays a major attack of short-term thinking, and risks re-opening the debate about a nuclear waste dump in South Australia, says Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

"Minister Holloway's use of the term 'responsibility' is eerily similar to the arguments used by Pangea and others keen to make Australia the world's nuclear waste dump", said Mr Parnell. 

 "The Rann Government may well want to argue a case for a nuclear future, but to describe a short term grab for profits as the responsible act of a generous world citizen, defies belief.

"South Australia has a responsibility to be a wise custodian of our uranium deposits.  This responsibility is not just for my generation, but for our children, and our children's children. We may make a quick buck from the nuclear industry in the short term, but we will then selfishly leave others to deal with the mess we leave behind.

"This is not responsibility, it's greed.

"And make no mistake, the more uranium we sell, the greater the pressure from the rest of the world to take back our uranium in the form of nuclear waste.

"Is that what Minister Holloway really means by the term 'responsibility'?

"Minister Holloway needs to make it clear whether he believes South Australia's 'responsibility' extends to us providing a safe haven for the world's nuclear waste", said Mr Parnell.


For further comment contact Mark Parnell on 0439 215 937



Craig Wilkins

Researcher to Mark Parnell MLC
Australian Greens
(       Ph:     (08) 8237 9471 / 0401 991 907   
           Fax:    (08) 8237 9566
8       Email:  craig.wilkins at parliament.sa.gov.au <mailto:greens at parliament.sa.gov.au>
*       Post:   Parliament House, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000
ý       Web:    http://www.markparnell.org.au <http://www.markparnell.org.au/> 





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