Conservation SA strongly welcomes the decision by the Federal Government to end the controversial and divisive process to impose a radioactive waste dump on Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula.

MEDIA RELEASE

10 August 2023 

Delight and relief as Kimba dump dumped

The state’s peak environment body has strongly welcomed the decision by the Federal Government to end the controversial and divisive process to impose a radioactive waste dump on Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula.

This morning, Resources Minister Madeleine King formally announced to Federal Parliament that the Albanese Government would not appeal the recent decision in the Federal Court in favour of the Barngarla people and would instead walk away from the Kimba/Napandee site.

“This is absolutely the right decision.  In the wake of the comprehensive win by the Barngarla people in the Federal Court, they really had no other legal or moral choice,” said Conservation SA Chief Executive Craig Wilkins.

“Congratulations to Federal Labor and Minister King for making the decision to walk away, and not prolong the ongoing division and pain in the Kimba community.

“The Kimba waste dump plan Labor inherited from the Morrison government was deeply flawed and deficient, and the lack of genuine engagement with the Barngarla people was appalling.

“The Barngarla deserve enormous praise and respect for their courage to stand up for their Country and their rights.

“And congratulations, too, to the Kimba farmers and the many national and state community groups, unions, and the SA Government who have all stood in solidarity with the Barngarla people.

“This was the right decision and offers a real opportunity for a reset in the relationship between governments, communities and Aboriginal people over nuclear waste.

“Because now that the Kimba plan is officially dumped, the real work can finally begin to find a more credible and respectful approach to identifying a long-term storage and disposal site for Australia’s nuclear waste that is consistent with international best practice,” he said.

RELEASE ENDS