WHAT
THEY SAID. WHAT THEY DID. WHERE THEY STAND...
We aim
to provide you with as much information as we can about the views
on nuclear issues of parties and candidates in the forthcoming Federal
election. In WA's recent election campaign, the Anti-Nuclear Alliance
of WA sent out a questionnaire on nuclear issues to candidates in
the election. Their responses were collated in grid format, to clearly
show where each party and major independent candidate stood on these
issues. Because most candidates from major parties responded with
blanket statements of party platform, we also gathered quotes and
other indications of MP's attitudes on these issues from a variety
of sources such as the parliamentary record (Hansard) and the media.
A pamphlet
showing party and major independents' nuclear attitudes as expressed
in our tick-the-box survey, plus some juicy quotes from key candidates,
was distributed widely in the week before the election.
We like
to think it was one of the factors that helped install a relatively
anti-nuclear government. (ALP plus 5 Greens MPs in the WA's Upper
House)
The Australian
anti-nuclear movement will be conducting a similar survey in around
September, with the help of key anti-nuclear groups around Australia.
It will be based on the Australian
anti-nuclear Charter, but take into account new developments
as these issues unfold over the coming months.
We have
also put together a 'scorecard' of the major political parties policies
and actions on nuclear issues. You can download the 'nuclear scorecard'
as a pdf document here.
The
collecting of MP quotes can begin now. Please with any pro or anti-nuclear quotes from the mouths of MP's
or candidates, with precise sources. (We can only use quotes with
exact details of where and when these words were said.)
Views
that seem to differ from the party line are of particular interest.
(We were very pleased to receive a response from a WA Liberal MP who
was anti-nuclear. And we know that there are still a few pro-nuclear
members of the ALP, although fortunately some have left the party.)
As well
as exact quotes, please tell us of suspicions re pro-nuclear views
or business involvement of sitting members or candidates in your area
and we may be able to find some useful information. THE MORE INFO
that comes in, the more we can put up on this site. Please help to
make it work!!!
Australia
has a three-tiered system of government: Local, State and Federal.
The Federal government has ultimate control over the fate of the nuclear
industry in Australia, having the power to allow, restrict or ban
nuclear activities across all States. The better we understand how
this sytem works, the more effective we will be. Find
out more...
