Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission

SA Premier urges referendum on unpopular nuclear waste

Usually, when people mention dying in a ditch, they are discussing something they would much rather avoid. But for the South Australian state Labor government of Premier Jay Weatherill, dying in a ditch seems a positive ambition.

For Weatherill and his cabinet, the 鈥渄itch鈥 is the government鈥檚 plan to host up to a third of the world鈥檚 high-level nuclear waste in a giant dump in the state鈥檚 remote north. The dump scheme was rejected decisively on November 6 by a government-organised 鈥淐itizens鈥 Jury鈥.

South Australian 鈥榗itizens鈥 jury鈥 rejects nuclear dump

To the fury of business spokespeople, South Australia鈥檚 鈥淐itizens鈥 Jury on Nuclear Waste鈥 has effectively exploded plans by the state Labor government to host the world鈥檚 largest nuclear waste dump.

The jury was intended by Premier Jay Weatherill to lend his scheme a garnish of popular consent. But in their final report on November 6, the jurors instead concluded that the dump plan should not go ahead 鈥渦nder any circumstances鈥. The vote was overwhelming, with two-thirds of jury members opposing the government鈥檚 projections.