The newly established House Select Committee on Nuclear Energy will kick start its public hearing program in Canberra today. The parliamentary committee has been established to inquire into and report on the consideration of nuclear power generation in Australia.
The Committee will hear from federal government departments including the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW); the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR); the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Department of Defence, and government agencies including the Australia Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), among others.
The Committee Chair, Dan Repacholi MP, the Federal Member for Hunter, said "the Committee is looking forward to opening its public hearing program with a day of 'scene setting' evidence from government departments and agencies who play a role in federal nuclear energy policy and legislation in Australia. The Committee hopes this will provide an opportunity for a productive discussion of the fundamental issues around nuclear power generation in Australia."
Mr Repacholi explained the Committee intends to hear from communities across Australia that would be impacted by the Opposition's nuclear energy plan. In the coming weeks and months, the Committee will also call on a broad range of experts to explore the financial, environmental, technical, and legal implications of developing nuclear energy in Australia, among other issues.
The hearing can be accessed online. Programs for all hearings and further information about the inquiry, including the inquiry terms of reference are available on the Committee's website.
The Committee on Nuclear Energy is seeking submissions by Friday, 15 November 2024.
Public hearing details
Date: Thursday, 24 October 2024
Time: 9am to 5:15pm (AEDT) (approximately)
Location: Main Committee Room (MCR), Australian Parliament House, Canberra.
