Senator CHAMARETTE(5.48 p.m.) —I move:

23.   Schedule 1, item 115, page 53 (after line 30), after section 56A(4) insert:

Public Consultation

(4A)   Before making an arrangement covered by paragraph (1)(d) the Minister must ensure full public consultation and involvement with the development, positioning and design safety of hazardous waste disposal facilities.

I think an omission of public consultation in something of this importance is inexcusable. We need public consultation with regard to siting, particularly of waste disposal sites. I can give a Western Australian example.

The Mount Walton site is an example of a lack of public consultation or willingness to hear the concerns of local people before making moves to have low level radioactive waste not only sited there but carried there from all over the state. There is a particular concern about the site not only because of the dangers at the particular site, which I believe was chosen because of its dryness and aridity—it has just had record rainfall—but also because of transportation to the site. For example, low level radioactive waste will be carried from Pinjarra right up to Perth, then out to Kalgoorlie and then out to Mount Walton. This is one illustration of where public consultation should be allowed not just at the site but also at the area where the radioactive waste is being produced.

The possibility of having Australia's national radioactive waste dump being sited at Mount Walton has caused great distress to the local community and council. The recognition within this bill of the basic need for public consultation both here and overseas with respect to this generally would, I believe, be of considerable public interest. The community would greet it very enthusiastically. I think that is the reason why it ought to be supported as an amendment.