Royal Commission into the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Tentative findings released

In February last year, the Premier announced a Royal Commission into the Nuclear Fuel Cycle so that South Australians had the opportunity to explore the practical, financial and ethical issues raised by a deeper involvement in nuclear industries.  

The Royal Commission was established to undertake an independent and comprehensive investigation into South Australia’s participation in four areas of the nuclear fuel cycle - mining, enrichment, energy and storage.  

The Commission has received over 250 submissions and heard from 128 witnesses over 34 sitting days, including 37 international experts.  

The Royal Commission has handed down its tentative findings. The report makes findings around the feasibility of South Australia’s further involvement in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle in particular mining, enrichment, electricity generation and waste storage.

A series of public meetings have been scheduled in Adelaide, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Whyalla, Port Lincoln, Mt Gambier, Ceduna, Renmark and Aboriginal communities in the Far North and West Coast.  

The Commission will provide its final report on 6 May this year and the Government will then embark on the next stage of the conversation with the South Australian community.  

We will assess the evidence gathered by the Commission and the feedback from the community.  

The Premier expects to provide a full response to the Royal Commission to the Parliament before the end of sitting this year.  

I encourage you to read the report and form their own judgment on this important question for South Australia’s future. For more information, please visit www.nuclearrc.sa.gov.au.