Thursday, 23 August, 2007

by Dr Jim Green
Friends of the Earth

Prime Minister John Howard says that local communities would have the
right to a binding plebiscite on the construction of nuclear power
reactors. But is this a core promise, Mr Howard?

The government has been authoritarian and undemocratic in relation to
its plans to dump Lucas Heights nuclear waste in the Northern
Territory. The federal government has ignored NT legislation banning
the imposition of nuclear dumps.

In 2005, Mr Howard rail-roaded legislation through parliament to by-
pass normal decision-making and consulatation processes in relation
to the proposed dump. This legislation - the Commonwealth Radioactive
Waste Management Act 2005 - undermines environmental, public safety
and Aboriginal heritage protections.

Then in 2006, Mr Howard rail-roaded legislation through parliament
which states that a nuclear dump site nomination is legally valid
even without consultation with, or consent from, Traditional Owners.
This legislation - the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management
Legislation Amendment Act 2006 - also removes the right to appeal
under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 and it
removals all legal rights to "procedural fairness".