This chronology provides a timeline of key events in
Australia’s radioactive waste management policy from 2012 to 2022, including
progress towards establishing a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility
(the NRWM facility).
Radioactive waste is defined as ‘material that no longer has
any foreseeable use and contains radioactive materials with activities or activity
concentrations at levels that require ongoing management to ensure its safety’.[4]
The management and disposal of this waste depends on its level of
radioactivity.
Australia’s classification scheme for radioactive waste is
based on the scheme issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency and is contained
in the Australian
radioactive waste management framework (ARWM Framework).[5]
It is based on the radioactivity level of the waste and how long it will take
for the radioactivity to decay (its half-life).
In Australia, this waste is generated from the use of
radioactive materials in medical, scientific and industrial applications
(excluding waste from mining activities, which is not covered under the ARWM
Framework). As briefly summarised in an earlier Parliamentary
Library publication, waste types and disposal methods are:
As noted, lower-risk types of radioactive waste can safely
be disposed of in ordinary waste facilities or in facilities only requiring
limited regulatory controls.[9]
The remaining 2 types of radioactive waste, low-level waste (LLW) and intermediate-level
waste (ILW), therefore currently present the major radioactive waste management
challenge in Australia.
Australia does not currently have a dedicated national
facility for the disposal of radioactive waste generated or controlled by the
Commonwealth or a Commonwealth entity. For many decades, radioactive waste in
Australia has been stored in ad-hoc and sub-optimal locations, increasing the
risk of an accident that could damage human health or the environment.[13]
Currently, radioactive waste is stored at around 100
locations across Australia, including ANSTO, hospitals, industrial sites, and
mines, although some of this waste is in categories of less concern than LLW or
ILW and therefore would not need to be sent to a dedicated facility.[14]
ANSTO has an existing
interim store for ILW and is developing an additional interim storage
facility for solid ILW as the NRWM facility is ‘unlikely to commence receiving
waste until after 2030’.[15]
Australia has also sent radioactive waste overseas for
reprocessing. Used nuclear fuel may be reprocessed,
enabling 25–30% more energy to be obtained from the materials.[17]
Australia began sending used fuel rods to other countries for reprocessing in
1963, when spent fuel rods from ANSTO’s High Flux Australian Reactor were sent
to the United Kingdom.[18]
Between 1996 and 2009, Australia sent 4 shipments of used fuel rods from ANSTO
research reactors to France, another 3 to the United States and one to the
United Kingdom.[19]
Following reprocessing, approximately 10 tonnes of ILW was
repatriated to Australia from France in 2015.[20]
A second
repatriation for the return of waste from the United Kingdom to ANSTO’s
Lucas Heights facility was completed in March 2022.[21]
The repatriated waste from France and the United Kingdom will remain at Lucas
Heights until it can be moved to the completed NRWM facility.[22]
In 2017, a further agreement was signed between Australia
and France enabling waste from ANSTO’s OPAL research reactor to be sent to
France for reprocessing. The agreement requires Australia to repatriate the
waste remaining after reprocessing by the end of 2034.[23]
Although the need to develop a dedicated facility has been
recognised by Australian governments for decades, finding a suitable site has
proved challenging:
Past attempts to site a national waste repository, including
near Woomera in South Australia and Muckaty in the Northern Territory, were
unsuccessful, due to community concern, and resistance from state governments
and affected local and Indigenous communities.[24]
The NRWM facility, as outlined in the ARWM Framework, will
have capacity for disposing of reasonably foreseeable volumes of LLW for the
next 100 years.[25]
The facility will also be designed and licensed for the temporary storage of
ILW. The ILW stores will have a design life of about 50 years, which would
allow time for storage for a ‘number of decades’ and for a period for waste
transfer to a future ILW disposal site.[26]
It is anticipated that developing a disposal facility for ILW, likely to be a
deep geological repository, will take several decades to site and develop.[27]
The absence of an ILW disposal facility in Australia is
not unusual internationally. In 2017, the Australian Nuclear Science Technology
Organisation (ANSTO) told the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties:
Many countries
don’t [have a final disposal pathway] for intermediate-level waste. It’s
expected that technological solutions from underground final storage to
directional drilling technologies and other things will be used for
intermediate-level waste in the future, but we have taken the approach that the
final disposal pathway should be one where we work with other countries as they
develop them.[28]
The Australian Government has chosen a site at Napandee,
near Kimba in South Australia, as the site for the NRWM facility. The
Government’s intention to site the facility at Napandee was first announced
in February 2020, before the introduction of the National
Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Selection, Community Fund and
Other Measures) Act 2021 (NRWM Amendment Act).
As initially proposed, the Bill sought to specify the facility site at
Napandee, rather than it being declared under section 14 of the NRWM Act.
However, this was amended and the NRWM Amendment Act, as passed, retained the
existing site selection process.[29]
The minister formally declared the site in November 2021, which resulted
in the Australian Government acquiring the land for the facility at Napandee.[30]
However, the plan to site the NRWM facility at Napandee has
proved contentious and does not have the support of the traditional owners of
the area, the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation (BDAC). The BDAC
are currently pursuing a judicial
review of the decision and these proceedings are ongoing at the time of
writing.
In addition, the NRWM facility will require several other regulatory assessments and approvals. A referral has been
made under the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the
project will require assessment and approval under the EPBC Act. The project
will be assessed by an Environmental Impact Statement.[31]
Approvals will be required from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear
Safety Agency (ARPANSA) under the Australian
Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 to site, build and
operate the facility.[32]
Approval is also required from the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation
Office before the facility can become operational.[33]
The Australian Radioactive Waste Agency (ARWA) also expects a detailed business
case will need to go to the Public Works Committee.[34]
| Milestones |
Details |
Source documents |
| 14 March 2012 |
The
House of Representatives agrees to Senate amendments to the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 and passes the Bill. |
Consideration
of Senate Message, House of
Representatives, Debates, 14 March 2012, 2823–7. |
| 4 April 2012 |
The
NRWM Act commences
National
Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012 (NRWM Act) receives Royal Assent and commences. |
National
Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012 |
| 1 May 2012 |
Lucas Heights
interim store for ILW
ANSTO announces its
intention to construct an interim
intermediate-level radioactive waste (ILW) storage facility at Lucas Heights. |
K. Simmonds, ‘Radioactive
Waste to be Stored at Lucas Heights’, ABC
News, 1 May 2012. |
| 19 September 2012 |
New ANSTO
medical plant and development of Synroc
The Gillard
Government announces a $168 million investment in a new nuclear medicine
facility. The ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Project, including construction of a
nuclear medicine manufacturing plant for Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), would also
enable construction of a co-located Synroc waste treatment plant.
Synroc was developed by ANSTO and the ANU; compared to other
storage methods (such as cementation), the process reduces the volume of
nuclear waste by 99% and reduces leaching out of radioactive products. |
C. Evans (Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and
Research), ‘Australia
Leads the Way with Nuclear Medicine Initiative’, media release, 19 September 2012.
ANSTO
Annual Report 2012–13, 11. |
| 29 November 2013 |
The CEO of
ARPANSA issues ANSTO with a siting and construction licence for a controlled
facility (the ANSTO Interim Waste Store) at Lucas Heights. |
CEO’s
decision: ANSTO interim waste store: siting and construction licence, 29 November 2013. |
| 19 June 2014 |
Muckaty
Station not considered further
The minister
announces that following a request from the Northern Land Council, the
Government will not proceed with the Muckaty Station nomination. |
I. Macfarlane
(Minister for Industry), ‘National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility’, media release, 19 June 2014. |
| 8 September
2014 |
Comment is
sought on a proposed declaration to open a nationwide voluntary process to
nominate land as a potential site for the NRWM facility (to be received by 10
November 2014). |
I. Macfarlane
(Minister for Industry), ‘National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility’,
media release, 8 September 2014.
National
Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012 – Notification of Proposed
Declaration, 8 September 2014. |
| 12 December 2014 |
The minister
declares that nomination of potential sites may be made under the NRWM Act,
with a call for expressions of interest to open in March 2015. |
I. Macfarlane
(Minister for Industry), ‘Government
to Seek Voluntary Nominations for a National Radioactive Waste Management
Facility Site’, media release, 12 December
2014.
Declaration that
nominations of potential sites may be made,
12 December 2014. |
| 8 February 2015 |
South Australian Royal
Commission announced
South Australian
Labor Premier Jay Weatherill announces a Royal Commission will look at the
risks and opportunities of expanding the nuclear industry in the state. |
S. Evans and B.
Potter, ‘Weatherill
Pushes Nuclear Expansion’, Australian Financial Review, 9 February
2015. |
| 2 March 2015 |
Call for voluntary
nominations
The Government calls for
voluntary nominations for sites for the NRWM facility. Nominations must be
made by 5 May 2015. |
I. Macfarlane
(Minister for Industry and Science), ‘Call
for Voluntary Land Nominations for a National Radioactive Waste Management
Facility’, media release, 2 March 2015. |
| 19 March 2015 |
South
Australian Royal Commission established
The South
Australian Government establishes the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission to
investigate South Australia’s increased participation in the nuclear fuel cycle. The commission is led by
former Governor Rear Admiral
Kevin Scarce. |
Nuclear Fuel
Cycle Royal Commission, ‘Royal
Commission into the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Established’, media release, 19
March 2015. |
| 8 April 2015 |
2015 Energy
White Paper
The 2015 Energy White
Paper is released by Industry and Science Minister Ian Macfarlane.
The Green
Paper issued to inform the white paper
process makes limited reference to nuclear and/or radioactive waste disposal.
The white paper concludes:
Some stakeholders are
opposed to nuclear energy in Australia because it … brings with it the
problem of disposing of radioactive waste.
… The Australian Government will
consider the outcomes of the South Australian Royal Commission into its
future involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle including the mining,
enrichment, energy and storage phases for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
|
Department of
Industry and Science, 2015
Energy White Paper, April 2015,
58–59.
I. Macfarlane
(Minister for Industry and Science), ‘Energy
White Paper Maps Australia’s Powerful Future’, media release, 8 April 2015. |
| 8 May 2015 |
The CEO of
ARPANSA issues ANSTO with a licence to operate the Interim Waste Store. |
CEO’s
decision: ANSTO interim waste store: operating licence, 8 May 2015. |
| 13 November 2015 |
Six sites are
shortlisted
Shortlisted
sites are announced, and comment is sought on 6 voluntary nominations of land
that the minister proposes to approve under section 9 of the NRWM Act: 3 from
South Australia – Pinkawillinie and Cortlinye (both near Kimba), and
Barndioota (Wallerberdina Station) near Hawker – as well as Sallys Flat (New
South Wales), Hale (Northern Territory) and Oman Ama (Queensland). Comments
to be received by 11 March 2016. |
J. Frydenberg
(Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia), ‘Six
Voluntary Sites Shortlisted for National Radioactive Waste Management
Facility’, media release, 13 November 2015.
National
Radioactive Waste Management Project – Proposed Approval of Nominated Sites –
Invitation to Comment, 16 November
2015.
An amended
address for Sallys Flat was gazetted on
14 December 2015. |
| 5 December 2015 |
Australian ILW
returns
A ship arrives
at Port Kembla returning Australian radioactive waste that had been
reprocessed in France. The ship is greeted by Greenpeace protesters and the
waste is trucked from Port Kembla to temporary storage at the Lucas Heights Interim
Waste Store. |
ANSTO, ‘Repatriation
of Australian Waste from France’, 18 March 2015.
Agence
France-Presse, ‘Nuclear
Waste Returned to Australia, Raising Concerns About Future Dump Site’, The Guardian, 5 December 2015.
T. Wright, ‘“Nuclear”
Ship Sparks Outrage at Lack of Checks’, Sydney
Morning Herald, 7 December 2015. |
| 29 April 2016 |
Barndioota site
is shortlisted
The minister
announces the Barndioota site is shortlisted as a possible site for the NRWM
facility and approves the site under section 7 of the NRWM Act. The
Barndioota community will be provided with up to $2 million for local
projects. The Government remains open to considering new expressions of
interest for additional sites. |
J. Frydenberg
(Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia), ‘Site
Shortlisted for National Radioactive Waste Management Facility’, media
release, 29 April 2016.
National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility – Approval of Nominated Site, 6 May 2016. |
| 29 April 2016 |
Generation
IV International Forum
Australia
is approved as a member of the Generation IV
International Forum
(GIF). On 22
June 2016, ANSTO (on behalf of Australia) signs the GIF Charter. Members
of the GIF are collaboratively developing new (Generation IV) nuclear energy
systems that aim to:
- use fuel more efficiently
- produce less waste
- be more economically competitive
- meet stringent standards in relation
to safety and non-proliferation.
|
C. Pyne
(Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science), J. Bishop (Minister for
Foreign Affairs) and J. Frydenberg (Minister for Resources, Energy and
Northern Australia) ‘Australia
Joins International Nuclear Research Forum’, media release, 29
April 2016.
ANSTO, ‘Australia
Joins International Collaboration’, media release,
15 September 2017. |
| 29 April 2016 |
Reports
of deterioration of drums containing radioactive waste at CSIRO’s Woomera
facility
ARPANSA
conducts an inspection of CSIRO’s Woomera storage facility. It expresses
concerns about the future integrity of waste storage drums, some of which
contain significant rust. ARPANSA also notes that, although unlikely, it is
possible the drums are leaking. Reports suggest that CSIRO would be spending
$29.7 million on remediation works at the site.
Later
research by CSIRO reported that no contamination from the waste storage had
occurred and that radiation levels at the site were in line with normal
background values. |
ARPANSA, Inspection
Report: CSIRO Hangar 5 Annex, 27–29
April 2016.
S. Trask, ‘Radioactive
Waste Leak to Cost $30m’, Canberra
Times, 14 March 2017.
CSIRO, ‘Radioactive
Waste at the Woomera Test Range’. |
| May 2016 |
South
Australian Royal Commission report
The final report
from the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission is delivered to
the Governor of South Australia on 6 May 2016 and publicly released on 9
May 2016.
Among the Royal
Commission’s recommendations is removing legislative prohibitions on the
development of a radioactive waste facility in South Australia and that the
South Australian Government:
pursue the opportunity to
establish used nuclear fuel and intermediate level waste storage and disposal
facilities in South Australia consistent with the process and principles
outlined in … this report. |
Nuclear Fuel
Cycle Royal Commission, Nuclear
Fuel Cycle Royal Commission Report,
Government of South Australia, 2016.
ABC
News 24, ‘1pm
News Bulletin’, 9 May 2015. |
| 23 June 2016 |
Barngarla
Native Title Determination
The Federal
Court determines that the Barngarla Native Title Claim Group, henceforth
represented by the Barngarla
Determination Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (BDAC), hold native title in
some areas of South Australia, including areas
in the Kimba LGA close to the Napandee site. Native title has been extinguished
on the Napandee site. The native
title claim was first lodged with the National Native Title Tribunal on 4
April 1996. The determination takes full effect as of 6 April 2018. |
Croft on
behalf of the Barngarla Native Title Claim Group v State of South Australia
(No 2) [2016]
FCA 724 |
| 7 November 2016 |
South
Australian Citizens’ Jury recommends against storage and disposal of nuclear
waste
A
Citizens’ Jury of 350 people rejects proposals for South Australia to develop
a nuclear waste storage industry. The two-thirds majority cite concerns,
including the economic modelling behind proposals, lack of trust in
government and issues of consent for local Aboriginal peoples. |
‘South
Australia’s Citizens’ Jury on Nuclear Waste’, SA Consultation website: Get to Know Nuclear.
D. Donaldson,
‘Will
the SA Nuclear Citizens’ Jury Scare Governments Away?’, The Mandarin, 7 November 2016.
E. Jenke and E.
Lawson, ‘Opinion
is King: How Governments Can End the Cycle of Distrust’, The Mandarin, 6 December 2016. |
| 15 November 2016 |
South Australian Premier proposes referendum on the
radioactive waste facility
South Australian Premier Jay
Weatherill states that the NRWM facility will only be built if supported by the public
in a referendum. The South Australian opposition opposes the construction of
the facility and the Premier notes that the referendum will not take place
prior to the March 2018 state election. |
S. Evans, ‘SA
Premier to put Nuclear Waste Plan to Referendum’, Australian Financial Review, 15 November 2016. |
| 2 February 2017 |
More
nominations at Kimba
The minister
announces that 2 more sites at Kimba have been nominated for consideration to
host the NRWM facility (later identified as Lyndhurst and Napandee). |
M. Canavan
(Minister for Resources and Northern Australia), ‘Two
Kimba Landowners Submit Voluntary Applications to Host a National Radioactive
Waste Management Facility’, media release, 2 February
2017. |
| 27 March 2017 |
The minister seeks
comment on the proposed approval of the Lyndhurst and Napandee sites near
Kimba. |
M. Canavan
(Minister for Resources and Northern Australia), ‘Consultation
to Begin on Two New Kimba Nominations for National Radioactive Waste Facility’, media release, 20 March 2017.
National Radioactive
Waste Management (Intention to Approve Nominated Sites) Notice 2017, registered 28 March 2017. |
| May 2017 |
The Joint
Standing Committee on Treaties supports the GIF Framework Agreement and
recommends that binding treaty action be taken. The Framework
Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and Development of
Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems, as extended by the Agreement Extending
the Framework Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and
Development of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems enters into force for
Australia on 13 December 2017. |
Joint Standing
Committee on Treaties, Report
171, May 2017, chapter 4.
Framework
Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and Development of
Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems,
opened for signature 28 February 2005, [2017] ATS 23 (entered into
force for Australia 13 December 2017). |
| May–June 2017 |
The first
Kimba community ballot results
Two ballots of
voters on the electoral roll in the District Council of Kimba (the local
government area where Napandee and Lyndhurst are located) are undertaken to assess
community support for the facility. The first ballot found that 57.4% of
voters were in favour of the establishment of the facility and 42.6% were
opposed. |
Barngarla
Determination Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v District Council of Kimba [2019]
FCA 1092, para 18. |
| 27 June 2017 |
The minister
approves the Lyndhurst and Napandee land nominations as approved sites
subject to detailed assessments to determine their suitability for hosting
the facility. |
National
Radioactive Waste Management (Approval of Nominated Sites) Notice 2017, registered 29 June 2017. |
| August 2017 |
A site at Leonora,
Western Australia, is nominated for the NRWM facility. The proposal is for an
underground site. It does not progress. |
K.
Pitt, Answer to Question in Writing: Nuclear Energy, [Questioner: T. Zappia], Question 305, House
of Representatives, Debates, 12 May 2020.
Azark Project Pty Ltd, Submission
to Senate Standing Committee on Economics, Inquiry into the National
Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund
and Other Measures) Bill 2020 [Provisions], [Submission no. 1]. |
| 1 November 2017 |
The minister
announces applications are open for grants totalling $4 million under a Community
Benefits Program. There is up to $2 million each available for the Barndioota and Kimba communities.
The minister
notes this is the first round of such grants for Kimba and the second round
for Barndioota. |
M. Canavan (Minister for Resources and Northern Australia), ‘Applications
Open for up to $4 million in Community Grants for Barndioota and Kimba
Communities’, media release, 1 November 2017. |
| 23 November 2017 |
Agreement
with France on OPAL waste
Australia and
France sign an agreement concerning the reprocessing of Australian irradiated
nuclear fuel elements.
The parties
agree that nuclear fuel from the OPAL Reactor will be received by France up
until 31 December 2030. Reprocessing can occur from 1 January 2019
until 31 December 2034. The final return date of the processed radioactive
waste to Australia is no later than 31 December 2035, unless an
extension is signed by the end of 2028. |
Joint Standing
Committee on Treaties, Report 179, May 2018, chapter 2.
Agreement
between the Government of Australia and the Government of the French Republic
Concerning the Reprocessing in France of Australian Irradiated Nuclear Fuel
Elements, opened for signature 27 November
2017, [2018] ATS 13 (entered into force for Australia 8 June 2018). |
| 6 February 2018 |
Senate
inquiry into the site selection process
The Senate refers
the selection process for a national radioactive waste management facility in
South Australia to the Senate Economics References Committee for inquiry. |
Economics
References Committee – Reference – National Radioactive Waste Management Facility
at Kimba and Hawker, South Australia, Senate Journals,
6 February 2018, 2593–4. |
| April 2018 |
Australian
Radioactive Waste Management Framework
The Australian
Radioactive Waste Management Framework is published. |
Department of
Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS), Australian
Radioactive Waste Management Framework, (Canberra: DIIS, April 2018). |
| Mid-April 2018 |
Bushfires
approach Lucas Heights
The
Holsworthy bushfire burns near ANSTO’s Lucas Heights facility. All
non-essential staff are evacuated. No damage is reported to any structures at
the facility. |
Australian
Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR), Major
Incidents Report 2017–18, (Canberra:
AIDR, 2018), 28. |
| 14 August 2018 |
Senate inquiry
report on selection process
The Senate
Economics Legislation Committee tables its report into the NRWM facility site
selection process. The recommendations of the majority report include an
intensification of efforts to engage with Indigenous stakeholders near Kimba
and Hawker, independent valuation of land to be acquired, and growth of test
agricultural produce in buffer zone around the facility (Australian Greens
senators presented a dissenting report).
The Australian
Government response, received in November 2018, agrees to 3 of the
recommendation and agrees in principle to the remaining 2. |
Economics
References Committee, Selection
Process for a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility in South
Australia, (Canberra: The Senate, August 2018).
Australian
Government, Economics
References Committee – Report – Selection Process for a National Radioactive Waste
Management Facility in South Australia – Government response,
November 2018. |
| 23 August 2018 |
Northern
Territory legislation
The Northern
Territory Legislative Assembly refers the Nuclear
Waste Transport, Storage and Disposal (Prohibition) Amendment Bill 2018 to the Social Policy
Scrutiny Committee for inquiry and
report. The Bill amends the Nuclear
Waste Transport, Storage and Disposal (Prohibition) Act 2004.
The final
report is released in October 2018. The
report recommends that the Bill be passed with an amendment. The Northern
Territory Government response was received in February 2019. The Bill
passed on 14 February 2019. |
Legislative
Assembly of the Northern Territory, ‘Nuclear Waste
Transport, Storage and Disposal (Prohibition) Amendment Bill 2018’, Social Policy Scrutiny Committee website. |
| September 2018 |
Rose Hill
Station at Brewarrina, NSW, is nominated for the NRWM facility. It does not
progress. |
K.
Pitt, Answer to Question in Writing: Nuclear Energy,
[Questioner: T. Zappia], Question 305, House of Representatives, Debates,
12 May 2020. |
| 6 June 2019 |
Inquiry into NSW
legislation
An inquiry is
established into the Uranium
Mining and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Repeal Bill 2019 to repeal the Uranium
Mining and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Act 1986. Submissions to the inquiry close on 18 October 2019. |
Parliament of New
South Wales, ‘Uranium
Mining and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Repeal Bill 2019’, Standing Committee on State Development website. |
| 12 July 2019 |
BDAC loses a
Federal Court bid to stop Kimba District Council from conducting a community
ballot to gauge support for the radioactive waste management facility. BDAC
argues that excluding native title holders from the ballot contravenes the Racial
Discrimination Act 1975. |
Barngarla
Determination Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v District Council of Kimba [2019]
FCA 1092. |
| 6 August 2019 |
Prerequisites
for nuclear energy inquiry established
The
House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy resolves
to conduct an inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia, following a referral from the Minister for
Energy and Emissions Reduction. |
House of
Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy, ‘Inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia’ website. |
| 14 August 2019 |
Inquiry into Victorian
legislation
The Victorian
Legislative Council requires the Environment and Planning Committee to
inquire into potential benefits to Victoria in removing prohibitions enacted
by the Nuclear
Activities (Prohibitions) Act 1983.
Terms of
Reference include:
(3) identify opportunities
for Victoria to participate in the nuclear fuel cycle
The committee reports on
26 November 2020. |
Legislative
Council Environment and Planning Committee, Inquiry into Nuclear
Prohibition, Parliament of Victoria,
Melbourne, 2020. |
| 27 September
2019 |
The BDAC loses a
Federal Court bid to prevent the council ballot going ahead pending an appeal
hearing on the July 2019 judgment. |
Barngarla
Determination Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v District Council of Kimba [2019] FCA 1585. |
| 3 October to
7 November 2019 |
Second Kimba
community ballot
The Australian
Electoral Commission (AEC) conducts the second Kimba community ballot on the NRWM
facility, resulting in 61.6% of voters in support, and 38.4% in opposition.
The minister
notes that a decision on whether the NRWM
facility will proceed in Kimba will
not be made until the conclusion of the Wallerberdina Station consultation
process and ballot. |
M. Canavan
(Minister for Resources and Northern Australia), ‘National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility – Kimba Community Ballot’, media release, 7 November 2019.
H. Laidlaw and J.
Haughton, ‘National
Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund
and Other Measures) Bill 2020’, Bills Digest, (Canberra: Parliamentary
Library, 2020), 25. |
| 8 October 2019 |
New Community
Benefit Program funds
The Government
announces a new $4 million Community Benefit Program. Grants up to
$2 million will be available for each of the communities around Kimba
and Wallerberdina Station. Projects can include local infrastructure
upgrades, services, apprenticeships and mental health initiatives.
The program
builds on $5.76 million already invested
across 57 projects in these communities since consultation on the proposed
NRWM facility
commenced in 2016. Grant recipients from earlier rounds are listed
here. |
M. Canavan
(Minister for Resources and Northern Australia), ‘New
Community Benefit Program for Kimba, Hawker and Quorn Communities’, media
release, 8 October 2019. |
| 23 October 2019 |
Minerals Council
of Australia releases a publication series in support of nuclear energy. |
Minerals Council
of Australia, Untapped
Potential and the Case for Nuclear Energy, 23 October 2019. |
| October 2019 |
Cost
of site selection process to October 2019
The
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science indicates total expenditure on
the site selection process from July 2014 to 31 October 2019 totals $54.86 million.
This period
aligns with the department’s preparations for the national call for voluntary
nominations in 2014 until the question was put at Senate Estimates in October
2019. |
Senate Economics
Legislation Committee, Answers to Questions on Notice, Industry, Innovation
and Science Portfolio, Supplementary Budget Estimates 2019–20, 24 October
2019, Questions
SI-34.
M. Etheridge, ‘Nuke
Dump Hunt's $55m bill’, Sunday Mail (Adelaide), 22 December
2019. |
| 11 November to
12 December 2019 |
Wallerberdina
Station community ballot
The AEC conducts
the Wallerberdina community ballot. Of
862 formal votes, 47.33% support hosting the facility in their community. The minister
acknowledges there is insufficient community support and that the site will
not be considered further. |
M. Canavan
(Minister for Resources and Northern Australia), ‘National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility – Wallerberdina Station Community
Ballot’, media release, 13 December
2019. |
| November 2019 |
BDAC poll
result
The BDAC
conducts its own independent poll of its 209 members through the Australian
Election Company. Of the 83 votes received, there was 0% support for the NRWM facility to be built at
either site near Kimba. |
M. Etheridge, ‘Traditional
Owners Dump Nuclear Plan’, The Advertiser, 21 November 2019. |
| November 2019 |
The first
edition of the World Nuclear
Waste Report is released, with a focus
on Europe. It notes that although geological waste disposal remains the
preferred option for governments, no country has a deep geological repository
in operation. It also highlights the risks from existing interim storage
arrangements.
|
The World
Nuclear Waste Report: Focus Europe, (Berlin
& Brussels, 2019), 11. |
| 13 December 2019 |
Nuclear
energy inquiry report tabled
Standing
Committee on Environment and Energy tables its report on the Inquiry into
the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia. The majority
report of the committee recommends that the Australian Government consider nuclear
energy as part of the future energy mix. The committee also recommended,
however, that the: Australian
Government … respect the will of the Australian people by committing to a
condition of approval for any nuclear power or nuclear waste disposal facility
being the prior informed consent of local impacted communities, obtained
following extensive consultation with local residents including local
Indigenous peoples. |
House of
Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy, Not Without Your
Approval: a Way Forward for Nuclear Technology in Australia, December 2019. |
| 1 February 2020 |
Napandee
is announced as the preferred site
The minister
announces that Napandee near Kimba is the preferred site to host the nuclear
waste facility. |
M. Canavan
(Minister for Resources and Northern Australia), ‘National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility – Napandee Site’, media release, 1 February 2020. |
| 10–14 February
2020 |
Australia and
other member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopt
a declaration to enhance global nuclear security, including a
specific commitment ‘to combatting [sic] illicit
trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material and to ensure that the
material cannot be used by non-State actors for malicious purposes’. The declaration follows an IAEA published factsheet
showing continued incidents of Trafficking
and Loss of Control of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material. |
Ministerial
Declaration, 10–14 February 2020, International Conference on Nuclear
Security: Sustaining and Strengthening Efforts |
| 13 February 2020 |
Amendments to
site the NRWM facility at Napandee
The Australian
Government introduces amendments to support the delivery of a NRWM facility
at Napandee, near Kimba in South Australia through the National
Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund
and Other Measures) Bill 2020 (‘the
Amendment Bill’).
The Amendment Bill
is to amend the National
Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012 and give effect to
the Government’s commitment to establish a single, purpose-built NRWM
facility. |
K. Pitt
(Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia), ‘Radioactive
Waste Management Facility a Step Closer to Delivery’, media release, 13 February
2020. |
| 26 February 2020 |
Bill referred
to Senate Committee for inquiry
The Senate
refers provisions of the Amendment Bill to the Economics Legislation
Committee for inquiry. |
Senate Standing
Committee for the Selection of Bills, Report,
3, 2020, 27 February 2020: 3, 10–11. |
| 4 March 2020 |
NSW Inquiry
reports
The Standing
Committee on State Development’s Inquiry
into the Uranium Mining and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Repeal Bill
2019 reports. The committee’s majority
supported the repeal of the prohibitions of uranium mining and the
construction of nuclear facilities in the state (Australian Labor Party
members presented a dissenting report). The committee chair states that
‘technological advancements in the recycling, reprocessing and disposing of
nuclear waste mean that historical environmental arguments against nuclear
are overstated’.
The NSW
Government response
is tabled in September 2020. The Bill lapsed at prorogation on 27 February 2023. |
Parliament of
New South Wales, Uranium
Mining and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Repeal Bill 2019, Standing Committee on State Development website. |
| 13 March 2020 |
Full
Federal Court dismisses an appeal of the
previous Federal Court judgement (12 July 2019) by Barngarla native title
holders on the Eyre Peninsula. The decision sees the BDAC lose its court bid to
have the AEC poll of voters on the local government roll of Kimba which took
place in October–November 2019 declared racially discriminatory, and hence
invalid. |
Barngarla
Determination Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v District Council of Kimba (No 2) [2020] FCAFC
39.
DISER, ‘National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility: Federal Court Decision’, media release, 17 March 2020. |
| 5 May 2020 |
Community
Benefit Program applications open
National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility – Community Benefit Program (see 8 October
2019) applications open. Grants of between $5,000 and $1 million will be
available for eligible projects under the program, with the government
accepting applications until 11 August 2020. |
K. Pitt
(Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia) and R. Ramsey (Member
for Grey), ‘National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility – Community Benefit Program
Applications Open’, media release, 5 May 2020.
National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility – New Community Benefit Program 2019–22 |
| 11 June 2020 |
Government
amendments to Amendment Bill
The Government makes 3
amendments in the House of Representatives to make clear provisions do not
affect native title. The
amended Bill passes the House of
Representatives. It is introduced
to the Senate on 15 June 2020 (also see 21 June 2021). |
Australian
Parliament, National
Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Selection, Community Fund and
Other Measures) Bill 2020 homepage.
K. Pitt, Consideration
in Detail: National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site
Specification, Community Fund and Other Measures) Bill 2020, House of
Representatives, Hansard, 11 June 2020, 3901-2.
Also see second
reading debates, amendments and divisions, House of Representatives, Hansard,
11 June 2020, 3863–3902. |
| 1 July 2020 |
Defence
against waste storage at Woomera
It is reported
that Defence officials have argued against the push to build a
radioactive waste storage facility at Woomera, citing concerns it could
hinder weapons testing. |
C. Bickers, ‘Defence
Sinks Waste Facility’, The Advertiser, 1 July 2020. |
| 21 July 2020 |
Australian
Radioactive Waste Agency announced
The Government
announces it will establish the Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
(ARWA) to be responsible for all functions of the NRWM facility. The new
agency will be based in Adelaide. |
K. Pitt
(Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia), R. Ramsey
(Member for Grey) and D. van Holst Pellekaan (South Australian Minister
for Energy and Mining), ‘New
Agency to Safely and Securely Manage Australia’s Radioactive Waste’,
media release, 21 July 2021 [sic]. |
| 14 September
2020 |
Senate
committee reports on the Amendment Bill
The Senate
Economics Legislation Committee tables its inquiry into the provisions of the
Amendment Bill 2020. The committee recommends the Bill be passed without
further amendment.
The committee
also recommends that ARWA (on behalf of the Department of Industry,
Innovation, Science, Energy and Resources) meets with the BDAC and engage an
independent mediator to facilitate the process.
Dissenting
reports were presented by the Australian Labor Party, Australian Greens and
Centre Alliance Senators. |
Senate Economics
Legislation Committee, National
Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund
and Other Measures) Bill 2020 – Report, 2020, 14 September 2020. |
| 6 October
2020 |
2020–21
Budget measures
The 2020–21 Budget
provides $103.6 million over 4 years to the NRWM facility program:
-
$66.3 million to undertake the
technical, design, regulatory and governance works required to progress and
secure the facility
-
$37.3 million to establish the
ARWA.
ANSTO will also
receive $81.6 million over 4 years for radioactive waste and spent
fuel management and decommissioning activities. |
Australian
Government, ‘Part
2: Expense Measures’, Budget Measures: Budget Paper No.2: 2020–21,
60, 122.
|
| 6 October 2020 |
ALP
seeks to amend the Amendment Bill
The
Australian Labor Party caucus agrees to amend the Amendment Bill so that the
Resources Minister must nominate the site, after internal debate that locking
the location into legislation would compromise the rights of the Barngarla
people to judicial review. |
P. Karp, ‘Labor’s
Position on Nuclear Waste Bill Means Uncertainty Remains Over South
Australian Site’, The Guardian, 6 October 2020. |
| 9 November 2020 |
Nuclear
medicine and radioactive waste roundtable
Members of the
nuclear medicine community, including clinicians, scientists, academics and
medical bodies attend a round table at Parliament House to discuss the importance
of nuclear medicine and research, and radioactive waste management.
Participants
agreed on the need to deliver the NRWM
facility, as stated in the roundtable
communique. |
K. Pitt
(Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia), ‘Roundtable
to Discuss the Future of Nuclear Medicine and Radioactive Waste’, media
release, 9 November 2020.
K. Pitt
(Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia), ‘Waste
that will be Radioactive for Years Currently Stuck in Australian Hospital Basements’,
media release, 9 November 2020. |
| 12 November 2020 |
One
Nation to oppose the Amendment Bill
Senator
Pauline Hanson announces Pauline Hanson’s One Nation will oppose the Amendment
Bill, citing concerns about the selection process, the degree of community
support, interactions with farming land and the siting of waste above ground. |
C. Bickers, ‘Hanson
Torpedoes Dump’, The Advertiser, 12 November 2020, 4. |
| 26 November 2020 |
Inquiry
into Victorian legislation reports
The Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee
tables its Inquiry into nuclear prohibition. In relation to waste
management, the committee is not persuaded that a policy change is warranted.
The committee finds that a radioactive waste strategy must be accepted by
government, industry and the broader community.
Three minority
reports were presented by members from the Shooters and Fishers Party, the
Liberal Democrats, the Liberal Party and the Australian Labor Party.
|
Legislative
Council Environment and Planning Committee, Inquiry into Nuclear
Prohibition, Parliament of Victoria,
Melbourne, November 2020. |
| 28 January 2021 |
Review
into EPBC Act recommends Commonwealth maintain oversight over nuclear issues
The Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 – Independent review – Final
report is publicly released. The review argues ‘It
is both appropriate and desirable that the Commonwealth maintains its oversight
over the long-term risks of radiation arising from nuclear actions to the
community and the environment’ and ‘recommends
that regulation of nuclear actions should remain within the EPBC Act’. |
G. Samuel, Independent
Review of the EPBC Act – Final Report (Canberra: Department of
Agriculture, Water and the Environment, 2020), 47. |
| 21 June 2021 |
Senate
amendments to Amendment Bill
Ten amendments are made to the Amendment
Bill (including substituting ‘Selection’ for ‘Specification’ in the Bill’s
title). The most significant result of the amendments is that instead of the
facility site being specified in legislation, the minister must make a
decision to declare a site for the facility. This retains the ability for the
minister’s decision to be appealed. |
Australian Parliament,
National
Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Selection, Community Fund and
Other Measures) Bill 2020 homepage.
Replacement
Supplementary Explanatory Memorandum, National Radioactive Waste
Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund and Other Measures)
Bill 2020. |
| 23 June 2021 |
Referral of
ANSTO ILW storage facility to Public Works Committee
Assistant Minister
to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ben Morton, asks the Parliamentary
Standing Committee on Public Works to inquire into and report on an ANSTO Intermediate
Level Solid Waste Storage Facility at Lucas Heights. |
Joint
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works inquiry
webpage. |
| 29 June 2021 |
The Amendment
Bill passes into law
Following Royal
Assent, the National
Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Selection, Community Fund and
Other Measures) Act 2021 passes into law. |
Australian
Parliament, National
Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Selection, Community Fund and
Other Measures) Bill 2020 homepage. |
| 11 August 2021 |
Minister intends Napandee
to host NRWM facility
The Minister for
Resources and Water announces
the intention to declare part of the land at Napandee as the site to host the
NRWM facility. This was followed by a consultation period, which
provided interested parties until 23 October 2021 to lodge submissions. |
K. Pitt
(Minister for Resources and Water), ‘Minister
Issues Intention to Declare Napandee Site for National Radioactive Waste Management
Facility’, media release, 11 August 2021. |
| October 2021 |
Public Works Committee
reports on ANSTO ILW storage facility
The committee recommends
that the House of Representatives resolve ‘that it is expedient to carry out’
the proposed works. |
Parliamentary
Standing Committee on Public Works, Report
8/2021, October 2021. |
| 29 November 2021 |
Minister declares
Napandee to host NRWM facility
The Minister for Resources
and Water declares that the NRWM facility will be located at Napandee. The declaration has the
effect that the land required for the facility is acquired by the Commonwealth. |
K. Pitt
(Minister for Resources and Water) and R. Ramsey (Member for Grey), ‘National
Radioactive Waste Management Facility to be delivered near Kimba in South
Australia’, media release, 29 November 2021. |
| 10 December 2021 |
ARWA interactions with
AUKUS
In response to a Question on
Notice, ARWA indicates it was not consulted in the lead-up to the AUKUS
submarine announcement, but that it is engaging with the Department of
Defence and will provide a secondee to the submarine taskforce.
ARWA indicates that the
nature of radioactive waste from the nuclear submarine program is not yet
known. |
Senate Economics
Committee, Answers to Questions on Notice, Industry, Science, Energy and
Resources Portfolio, Supplementary Budget Estimates 2021–22, 4 November
2021, Question SI-74. |
| 20 December 2021 |
The BDAC challenges
the decision to build the NRWM facility
The case is lodged
in the Federal Court of Australia for judicial review. The BDAC argues that
its views ‘had not been seriously considered and they were also concerned
about potential environmental damage’.
The case is ongoing at the time
of writing. |
Barngarla
Determination Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC & Ors v Minister for Resources
and Water
M. Etheridge, ‘Nuclear
Dump Site Challenge’, The Advertiser, 8 December 2021. |
| 30 December 2021 |
Reports of
reprocessed waste from the UK shortly to be shipped to Australia
It is reported that reprocessed
Australian radioactive waste will begin being transported from its current
location. The intermediate-level waste is expected to arrive at Port Kembla
before the middle of 2022, from where it will be transported to Lucas
Heights. |
J. Magnay, ‘Nuclear
Waste Arrival Sparks Storage Debate’, The Australian, 30 December
2021. |
| 16 February 2022 |
Legislation introduced to
establish an Australian Radioactive Waste Agency (ARWA)
The Australian
Radioactive Waste Agency Bill 2022 is introduced into Parliament.
The Bill states that the ARWA
would have responsibility for the construction and operation of the NRWM
facility, as well as consulting with the public, providing advice, and
conducting research and development on issues related to radioactive waste.
In addition, ARWA would be required to develop an inventory of radioactive
materials in Australia.[35]
The Bill lapses with the
dissolution of the House of Representatives on 11 April 2022. |
T. Brennan
and P. Hamilton, Australian
Radioactive Waste Agency Bill 2022, Bills Digest, (Canberra: Parliamentary
Library, 2020), 4 April 2022. |
| 7 March 2022 |
EPBC referral
for the NRWM facility
Public comment
is invited during March 2022 on the referral made under the EPBC Act to site
the NRWM facility at Napandee. The referral and supporting documents are
available through the EPBC referrals database. |
EPBC Referral
2021/9128, Invitation
for public comment on referral, 7 March 2022. |
| 13 March 2022 |
Second
repatriation of ILW
Four 500 kg
canisters of vitrified waste are received by ANSTO for storage at Lucas
Heights until the NRWM facility is operational. These are the radiological
equivalent to 114 fuel rods sent to the UK in 1996. |
ANSTO, ‘Successful
Repatriation of Australia’s Radioactive Waste’, ANSTO website, 13 March
2022. |
| 16 March 2022 |
ANSTO licensed
to prepare site for ILW Capacity Increase facility
This is the
first stage of the licensing process. Future licence applications will be
required for construction, operation and decommission. |
ARPANSA, ‘ANSTO
Intermediate Level Waste Capacity Increase Facility’, ARPANSA website. |
| 26 May 2022 |
Decision made
that NRWM facility project is a controlled action under the EPBC Act
The project is
determined to be a controlled action under the EPBC Act, with controlling
provisions being listed threatened species and communities (in particular the
malleefowl and 10 other vulnerable or endangered species), nuclear actions
and Commonwealth actions. |
EPBC Referral
2021/9128, Decision
whether action needs approval/Approval Required, 31 May 2022.
EPBC Referral
2021/9128, Statement
of Reasons: Decision under section 75 and section 87, 21 July 2022. |
| 1 June 2022 |
BDAC urges
new government to abandon NRWM facility at Napandee
It is reported
that the BDAC has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requesting the
new government revokes the declaration of Napandee as the site for the NRWM
facility. |
NITV, ‘Traditional
Owners Urge New Govt to Abandon SA Nuclear Waste Dump’, SBS NITV, 2
June 2022. |
| 6 September 2022 |
ARWA updates
national inventory of radioactive waste
The national
inventory of radioactive waste is updated for the first time since 2018.
ANSTO’s future
LLW and ILW volumes are ‘substantially greater than previously reported’. |
ARWA, ‘ARWA
Updates Australia’s National Inventory of Radioactive Waste’, 6 September
2022.
ARWA, Australia’s National
Inventory of Radioactive Waste 2021, August 2022. |
| 16 September
2022 |
South
Australian Premier supports local Indigenous veto of NRWM facility
The South
Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, is reported to have said ‘the state
government’s position is that the local Indigenous community should have the
opportunity to have a veto on this proposal’, noting that the state
government does not have legislative power to stop the project. |
D. Smith, ‘Premier
Backs Traditional Owners in Saying No to Nuclear Waste Facility’, The
Advertiser, 16 September 2022. |
| 10 November 2022 |
Site
characterisation studies to commence at Napandee
The minister
indicates that low-level site characterisation studies to ‘gather more
detailed data on matters such as the site’s geology, hydrology, seismology
and baseline radiological conditions’ will commence in the following week. |
M. King
(Minister for Resources), Letter
to Senator Barbara Pocock, 10 November 2022.
C. Peddie, ‘What’s
Happening with the Radioactive Waste Facility in South Australia?’, COSMOS,
18 November 2022. |
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