JOHN HOWARD’S NEW NUCLEAR PLAN INCREASES PRESSURE ON TOWNSVILLE TO HAVE REACTORS

Member for Thuringowa Craig Wallace said pressure would increase on Townsville to have nuclear power stations under John Howard’s new accelerated plan for a nuclear Australia.

Mr Wallace said Townsville residents should be concerned by plans announced by Mr Howard on the weekend to develop guidelines for an expanded nuclear industry and future nuclear power stations.

The Prime Minister also announced advanced nuclear reactor research.

Mr Wallace, who also is Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland, said the Member for Herbert Peter Lindsay, a supporter of nuclear power stations, could not be relied on to stop Townsville going nuclear.

“This new nuclear plan shows John Howard is going full steam ahead to develop nuclear power,” Mr Wallace said.

“A Queensland Government report last year identified Ross, near Townsville, and Strathmore, west of Bowen, as two likely sites,” he said.

“Although John Howard has said that private enterprise will choose the sites, his new accelerated plan gives the green light to reactors.

“Unfortunately Peter Lindsay is unlikely to stand up to John Howard and tell him there should be no nukes for Townsville.”

Mr Wallace said North Queensland did not want to be known as “beautiful one day, radioactive the next”.

As well as problems with waste disposal, nuclear reactors are likely to impact on the region’s water supplies, significantly reducing the security of water supplies for the Twin Cities.

Mr Wallace said Queensland had 300 years’ worth of coal in the ground.

“The Beattie Government is committed to pursuing clean coal technologies, renewable energy and gas, as more strategic and economically sensible options,” he said.

The Beattie Government recentlly passed new laws prohibiting nuclear facilities, including uranium enrichment plants, nuclear power stations and nuclear waste sites in Queensland.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.