South Australians are being urged to have their say on nuclear as part of the state’s largest community engagement program, kicking off in Rundle Mall later this month.

Everyone will have the opportunity to get involved in the conversation with details of over 100 sites - including almost 30 Aboriginal communities and 60 regional towns – released today.

Teams from the State Government’s Nuclear Consultation and Response Agency (CARA) will begin with a three day event in Rundle Mall from July 29, before heading to each corner of the state.

The consultation program aims to encourage all South Australians to get involved in the conversation about our state’s future and share in the nuclear Citizens’ Jury report, which was presented to the Premier Jay Weatherill last Sunday.

The 12 page report highlights key points the jury believes their fellow South Australians should discuss from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission report.

Background

The Citizens’ Jury of 50 randomly selected South Australians delivered its report following two weekends of deliberations at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

The Jury’s report identified that the opportunity to store high level waste from overseas would provide economic benefits, but there were also substantial risks to consider.

The jury focused on four key themes that they believe South Australians should discuss, including:

• Community consent – and the importance of an informed opinion
• Economics – including the benefits and risks to the State
• Safety – including key issues around storage, health and transport
• Trust – noting that accountability and transparency must be built into any regulatory systems

The jury’s report urges all South Australians to be part of the process.

The engagement program will begin later this month with the launch at Rundle Mall on Friday, July 29.  For the full list of dates, venues and times, click here.

Quotes attributable to CARA chief executive Madeline Richardson:

It’s a substantial program because this is an important discussion to have. We are committed to getting to every corner of the state, are always looking for new ways to talk to people, share the information and answer their questions.

The Citizens’ Jury report provides us with a framework for the state-wide consultation process and explores the key issues that all South Australians should discover, discuss and decide.

It’s a 12 page summary of the key issues, and highlights what the jury believes their fellow South Australians want to know more about.

Throughout the three month statewide program, we will be providing South Australians with the tools they need to get involved in this discussion, using the Citizens’ Jury report as a conversation starter.

We are going to every corner of the state – towns and communities, meeting in town halls, main streets, schools, cafes, shopping malls, community centres and libraries – in more than 100 sites.

It’s a relaxed format, so that anyone can drop-in and have a chat between 11am and 7pm – at lunchtime, before school pick up, or on the way home from work. We know that people have very busy lives, and that’s why we will be mobile, flexible and responsive.