Australian leaders argue on how to dispose of nuclear waste

The Australian political establishment is divided as to where the federal government should dispose of nuclear waste acrruing from the country's expanded submarine deal with the UK and US. The AUKUS deal will see Australia become the seventh nation with nuclear-powered submarines in its military arsenal, and comes amid Western concerns about China's military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region. The terms of the agreement stipulate that the Australian government will be responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste from the vessels, but this has opened a new political front for the country's various state leaders. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has suggested South Australia as the most appropriate location, while West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has indicated that nuclear waste disposal sites are unwelcome in his state. Susan Close, the acting South Australian premier, has responded to the suggestions by saying the decision on nuclear waste locations should be dictated by science and not by "state leaders trying to move nuclear waste that doesn't yet exist across the border." A final decision on the location of the site is not expected for another 12 months, though the eventual site won't be required for use until around 2055.