Senator Ludlam asked the Minister for Resources & Energy, upon notice, on 19 October 2012: (1) With reference to the tender process for the concept design of a national radioactive waste facility: (a) what is the status of the tender process; (b) who tendered for this work; (c) what is the selection process; (d) when is the successful tenderer likely to be announced; (e) when is the contract expected to be completed; and (f) what are likely to be the key performance criteria, outcomes and headland dates of the contract. (2) Has the department had any dialogue or provided briefings to the new Northern Territory Government or its agencies regarding the location of a national radioactive waste facility at Muckaty; if so with whom and when. (3) Has the department had any dialogue with any stakeholders over the potential for a further site nomination: (a) within the Muckaty Land Trust area; and (b) in any other region of the Northern Territory or elsewhere. (4) What is the status of the planned transport of radioactive materials to the proposed Muckaty site. (5) Has the department undertaken any further work on developing the preferred transport option or on detailing further options. (6) What is the department's anticipated timeline in advancing the assessment and approvals needed for the Muckaty proposal, and what is the next step. (7) What is the current status of expansion plans at Olympic Dam. (8) What formal or informal applications or discussions have been received from or undertaken with BHP Billiton regarding potential future project configurations. (9) When do existing state and federal approvals for the shelved development option and the wider project lapse. (10) With reference to the proposed sale of the Yeelirrie project from BHP Billiton to Cameco: (a) what is the status of the sale; (b) has the sale been completed; (c) has the sale received Foreign Investment Review Board approval and what is the process and timeline for this approval; and (d) what rights, agreements and approvals would be transferred to the new owner. (11) With reference to reports of renewed company interest in advancing the development of the Angela and Pamela deposits: (a) what is the current status of this project; (b) what assessment and approvals are needed to further advance development; (c) have there been any formal or informal application or discussions between the department and the project proponent around this issue; and (d) what implications does the recent change of government in the Northern Territory have for this project. (12) What is the department's understanding of the current status of uranium mining in Queensland. (13) Has there been any dialogue between the department or any federal agencies with the Liberal National Party (LNP) Queensland Government or any state government agencies about this issue. (14) Has the department had any formal or informal dialogue with any uranium mining companies or industry bodies in relation to this issue. (15) What implications does the election of the LNP in Queensland have on this issue. (16) What are the current status and production rates at the Honeymoon uranium project. (17) What is the status of approvals at the Samphire uranium project near Whyalla in South Australia. (18) What is the status of the current trials of the U-HiSAL uranium extraction process.