A government senator is upping the ante on the nuclear debate, saying a revamp of the industry could help deliver free energy to his fellow South Australians and reduce state taxes.
Unlike Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is open to a discussion on exporting fuel rods, Sean Edwards wants to see spent ones recycled here and generators installed.
"I'm talking about: we mine it, we dig it up, we use it," he told ABC radio on Friday, spruiking the economic benefits of having a local industry.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was disturbed to hear that seven possible locations have been scoped out for a nuclear waste storage facility, as reported by Fairfax Media.
"I think the Liberal Party needs to get over its addiction to secrecy and just level with Australians," he told reporters in Melbourne.
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Mr Shorten wants to know which communities have nuclear stockpiles targeted for their area.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters in Launceston Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg would release the list and have more to say "in due course".
