Howard’s US nuclear push turns up heat on Iemma’s weak laws

Dr Kaye said: “The only way to counter John Howard’s desperation to join President George Bush’s nuclear club is to allow the people of NSW to have their say.

“The problem is that the existing state laws that supposedly protect the state from nuclear facilities are toothless.

“The construction of the OPAL reactor at Lucas Heights proved how little power or political will there is in the NSW government to oppose the expansion of the nuclear industry in this state.

“We have given notice of legislation that would automatically trigger a referendum if any federal government tries to force this state to accept a nuclear facility.

“Our bill is a direct challenge to the Iemma government to strengthen their stand against nuclear power by giving the people a direct say in their own future.

“The Greens are confident that there would be an overwhelming vote against any move to impose nuclear reactors, enrichment, reprocessing or storage onto a neighbourhood in this state.

“No community wants to risk poisonous waste, toxic leakages and devastating accidents.

“No society should tolerate the economic damage and geopolitical destabilisation that a nuclear industry would bring. 

“If Premier Iemma is serious about keeping NSW safe from John Howard’s nuclear ambitions, he will join with us in strengthening state laws and making sure that the people have a say before they end up with a reactor in their back yard,” Dr Kaye said.