South Australia: the Nuclear State?
On the 8th of February 2015 the South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill announced a Royal Commission into the future role of the nuclear industry in South Australia. The state hosts the Olympic Dam and Beverley 4 Mile uranium mines, and exports the yellowcake out of Port Adelaide. Meanwhile, the industry nationally counts for 0.3% of Australian export revenue and 0.03% of jobs.
The surprise commission has come at an odd time, BHP Billiton recently laid off 300 workers at the Olympic Dam mine and nuclear energy is in decline globally, as many countries are gradually phasing out nuclear and turning to renewable sources of energy instead. So, what is the purpose of the Commission? Is it a push to expand the industry? Or is this another attempt to butter up the South Australian public for a radioactive waste dump?
Guests: – Dr Jim Green, national nuclear free campaigner at Friends of the Earth – Aunty Sue Coleman-Haseldine, Kokatha-Mula woman from Ceduna, South Australia – Cat Beaton from the Conservation Council of South Australia
