[Greens-Media] PARNELL: Greens motion to block Roxby extension voted down

[Parnell]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday 28th November 2012

Greens motion to block Roxby extension voted down

A motion in State Parliament moved by Mark Parnell MLC, Greens Parliamentary Leader, to block the four year extension to the controversial Olympic Dam Expansion Indenture has been defeated.

Ex-Treasurer Kevin Foley had also called publicly for the extension to be refused and former Premier, Mike Rann, said as recently as August:  'We don't believe there is a basis for an extension of the indenture arrangements'

"It's not often I agree with Kevin Foley, but he is dead right on this one," said Mark Parnell.

"We shouldn't be extending the enormously generous concessions granted to the world's richest resource company when it is abundantly clear BHP Billiton has no intention to start the Olympic Dam expansion for years.

"It's in South Australia's best interests to negotiate a better deal if and when the project gets resurrected," he said.

In Parliament tonight, Labor combined with the Liberal party to defeat the Motion and ratify the 4 year extension.  On one of the most radioactive days in State Parliament for some time, the Greens also moved a motion calling on the Government to prevent the transport of uranium from Western Australia through our State.  

Adelaide-based Toro Energy Ltd is proposing to mine uranium in WA and ship the material to either Port Adelaide or Darwin through South Australia.

"It's bad enough that SA uranium is being exported to facilities such as the crippled Fukushima reactor in Japan and hence into the broader environment through contamination.  We shouldn't be the conduit for WA uranium either.  In both States, it's best left in the ground", concluded Mark Parnell.


For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893