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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a Royal Commission?
A Royal Commission is an independent body established under the Royal Commissions Act 1917 (SA) to
inquire into matters of public significance. The subject matter of a Royal Commission’s inquiry is governed by its
Terms of Reference (a description of the topics that it is to investigate).
At the conclusion of its inquiry, a Royal Commission will release a report which will outline the evidence which it
has gathered and the findings it has made based on that evidence. A Royal Commission will also make
recommendations related to its findings.
Who established the Royal Commission?
The Commission is established by the Governor at the request of the Government of South Australia.
Is the Royal Commission independent?
Yes. The Commission conducts its inquiries and makes its findings independently of Government.
The findings and recommendations of the Commission are based on the evidence which it collects through its
inquiry.
What is the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission?
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission has been established to undertake an independent and
comprehensive investigation into South Australia’s potential future participation in four areas of activity that form
part of the nuclear fuel cycle. These areas are outlined in its Terms of Reference which can be accessed here.
The activities relate to the potential expansion of exploration, extraction and milling of minerals, the undertaking
of further processing of minerals and manufacture of materials containing radioactive substances, use of
nuclear fuels for electricity generation and the storage and disposal of radioactive and nuclear waste.
In each case the Commission will need to consider the feasibility and viability as well as the risks and
opportunities associated with those activities. Inquiring into risks and opportunities requires consideration to be
given to their future impact upon the South Australian economy, environment and community. Consideration
must also be given to the measures that might need to be taken to facilitate and regulate those activities.
What will the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission do?
The Commission will utilise a wide range of processes in order to collect evidence relating to the matters in its
Terms of Reference.
The Commission will soon after its establishment invite individuals and organisations with an interest in the
matters outlined in the Terms of Reference to make submissions. The Commission will consider the
submissions it receives.
The Commission will also obtain further information on its own initiative. It will request documents and research
from government bodies, individuals and organisations both within Australia and internationally. It will also visit
sites at which activities relevant to the Terms of Reference are conducted to better inform its understanding of
the relevant issues.
As part of its inquiry, the Commission will also conduct hearings.
After collecting all relevant evidence, the Commission will compile a report which will outline its findings based
on the evidence it has collected and will make recommendations.
When will the Commission release its report?
The Commission is required to report by no later than 6 May 2016.
Who is the Commissioner?
The Commissioner is Rear Admiral the Honourable Kevin Scarce AC CSC. Commissioner Scarce was
Governor of South Australia from 2007 through to 2014. In December 2014, Commissioner Scarce was
appointed as the 16th Chancellor of the University of Adelaide.
Will there be an invitation for submissions from the Royal Commission?
Yes. In the near future, interested individuals and organisations will be invited to make written submissions to
the Commission expressing views or providing information and evidence relevant to the matters in its Terms of
Reference.
Will there be a closing date for submissions?
The Commission will accept submissions at any time after the invitation for submissions is made until the
closing date. The closing date will be announced when the invitation for submissions is made. It is envisaged
that interested parties will have two to three months from the date the invitation is made to make a submission.
Where do I send a submission?
Written submissions will be able to be provided to the Commission electronically (by email or upload to this
website) or by mail to the Commission’s GPO Box.
Please refer to the Submissions tab for more information.
Does the information which I provide in a submission need to follow a particular format?
The Commission has published Submissions Guidelines which describe the desired content and format of
submissions to the Commission.
Submissions made to the Commission are required to be accompanied by a completed Coversheet the
template for which can be downloaded here.
Will anyone else be able to view the submission I provide to the Royal Commission?
Unless it agrees to receive a particular submission confidentially, the Commission intends to make submissions
it receives publicly available on this website.
Can I make a written submission confidentially?
The Commission will only receive information confidentially by prior agreement. It will only agree if there are
good reasons to do so.
Please refer to the Submissions Guidelines for more information.
Will there be hearings?
The Commission will conduct hearings.
The Commission intends to conduct hearings both in Adelaide and in regional locations. Interested people will
be able to attend public hearings to observe the proceedings. Further, transcripts of public hearings will be
made available on this website.
The development of a program for oral hearings will be guided by the Commission’s own enquiries and by the
content of the written submissions it receives.
Please refer to the Hearings tab for more information.
Will I be able to make submissions at a hearing?
Initially, submissions made to the Commission will need to be in writing unless there are special circumstances
that mean that a different arrangement needs to be made.
Later in the Commission’s process, it is intended that there will be an opportunity for interested parties, with the
permission of the Commission, to make submissions at a hearing.
Information about making submissions will be made available on this website and through regular emails to
which interested parties can subscribe through the Keep Me Informed section of this website.
How can I contact the Royal Commission?
If you require further information, you can contact the Commission at enquiries@nuclearrc.gov.au or by
telephone on +61 8 8207 1480.
Can I receive updates from the Royal Commission?
The Commission will communicate information about its investigations, research and other activities through
this website.
For regular updates about the activities of the Royal Commission interested parties can subscribe to emails by
entering their details in the Keep Me Informed section of this website.