NUCLEAR ENERGY
586. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
(1) Can the Premier confirm that The Guardian
reported on 4 June 2019 that the Minerals Council of Australia has flagged it will use the review of the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999—the
EPBC act—to push for a removal of the country's nuclear ban,
saying Australia is the only high electricity-consuming country without nuclear
power in its energy mix?
(2) Will Western Australia
cooperate in an evaluation of nuclear energy as a potential contributor to
energy security for Western Australia?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) Yes, the article did state that the Minerals
Council of Australia would advocate for the lifting of the ban, but I note
this is commonwealth environmental legislation. Western Australia will not
allow nuclear power.