Wednesday, 29 August, 2007

by Natalie Wasley
Arid Lands Environment Centre

The Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) has criticised Prime Minister Howard’s support for a federal radioactive dump in the NT, claiming the project and process has never been accepted or endorsed by Territory residents or the Territory government.

“Territorians have never been given the opportunity to have a say on the dump plan, the federal government simply rammed through legislation to over ride NT laws and impose it here,” said ALEC campaigner Natalie Wasley.

Ms Wasley expressed concern that the Prime Minister has not spoken directly to affected people and urged him to visit the communities – some only kilometers – from the proposed dump sites. “If Mr Howard visited these places he would hear that people are living and running successful business ventures extremely close to the proposed dump and are strongly opposed to hosting federal radioactive waste.”

“In the case of Muckaty, where some traditional owners agreed to nominate their land through the Northern Land Council, they will receive the first installment of their $12 million payment when the nomination is accepted by Science Minister Julie Bishop, regardless of whether this is chosen as the preferred site. Cheque book politics is not a responsible way to manage radioactive waste.”

“It is also misleading for Mr Howard to say that ‘we're talking here about the disposal of waste largely as a result of hospital and other uses,’ (ABC online August 29, 2007). The long-lived radioactive spent fuel rods from the Lucas Heights reactor, Australia’s most radioactive material, are also earmarked for the dump. These are highly toxic and remain radioactive for a quarter of a million years”.

“It is cute politics for Mr Howard to announce that in ten years a Liberal Government might allow people a vote on nuclear reactor locations, but right now the Howard government is imposing a radioactive waste dump on the Territory against the wishes of traditional owners, targeted communities and the Northern Territory Government and against the advice of all peak national environmental groups”.

“The government has continually told communities near the proposed sites that the waste is ‘safe’ and ‘innocuous’. Why then are they hurrying to move it out of Sydney? The Government should acknowledge the growing international consensus that community consultation and acceptance of nuclear facilities is an essential part of any siting study,” Ms Wasley concluded.