ABC Radio National

Ockham's Razor





Date/Time 09 Dec 2016 9:10:49am
As the former MD of Pangea Resources, I'd like to add a few comments.

First, Australia is part of the global nuclear community. It mines and exports a significant part of the global annual consumption. It produces nuclear wastes in its medical and industrial community. It has an operating reactor. It faces the need to manage its wastes.

Next, man did not invent radiation. Radioactive material occurs in nature. But society has decided that technologies involving radiation are beneficial. Hence, ore is mined and the by products must be managed.

Australia possesses geology that has been entirely stable for millions of years. These are the best sites on earth for the safe disposal of nuclear materials.

Finally, a decision to dispose of wastes produced by others is clearly one that Australia alone must make, measuring the costs and benefits, including contributing to nonproliferation and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
