Friday, 25 May, 2007

by Senator Kim Carr
Australian Labor Party

Science and rights dumped by Howard Govt

The next chapter has opened in the Howard Government's nuclear waste dump fiasco, with the Government today accepting a highly controversial site nomination at the Northern Territory's Muckaty Station, before scientific testing of the area.

Education Minister Julie Bishop told media a waste dump could be up and running in 5 years, after hailing the nomination of the site by the Northern Land Council and traditional owners.

But Labor understands that many families in the area are strongly opposed to the waste dump idea, and that these families are concerned their rights have been ignored in the process.

The announcement comes in the wake of changes to legislation, forced through by the Howard Government, stripping traditional owners of rights over their land. The changes mean the Howard Government can do as it likes, giving it the whip hand in any "negotiation", or "consultation" process.

Labor is not surprised, but profoundly disappointed by this decision. It seemed almost inevitable given the Howard Government's manoeuvrings, including a $12 million "package of benefits" to sweeten the deal.

Labor does not pretend that selecting a nuclear waste dump site is a simple process, but it is only made more difficult by the Howard Government's bullying, high-handed approach.

Labor is committed to establishing a consensual process of site selection, which looks to agreed scientific grounds for determining suitability and the centrality of community consultation and support.