Friday, 25 May, 2007

Radio Australia

The Australian Greens party has accused the Northern Land Council of not properly consulting with traditional land owners over a deal which will allow a nuclear waste dump to be built in Australia.

The council says the Ngapa traditional owners will allow low and intermediate level radioactive waste to be buried on their land at Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.

In return, the Australian government will give the indigenous owners a $US9.8 million compensation package.

Greens party senator, Christine Milne, says the deal is a joke.

"The Northern Lands Council has not engaged in appropriate consultation," she said.

"Many of the traditional land owners do not want this waste dump at Muckaty Station.

"It's very clear that the prime minister is desperate to get a nuclear waste dump for Australia. That's why he's over-ruling the Northern Territory, that's why he's pushing this through."