Thursday, 15 February, 2007

ABC NT Local News

The Northern Territory's Labor Senator, Trish Crossin, has accused the Federal Government of lying after it admitted yesterday the Territory will be a dump site for Sydney's decommissioned Lucas Heights reactor.

Senator Crossin says officials told a Senate estimates about the Commonwealth's dumping plan, despite assurances on the day of the decommissioning that waste would not be heading for the Territory.

Senator Crossin says the Commonwealth will not say exactly how much waste there will be or where it will go.

"Every time I go to estimates I find another saga, another story," she said.

"And we really need them to come clean and be honest and give us the whole picture about exactly what it is we're going to be asked to store on behalf of the Commonwealth."

Senator Crossin says the Federal Government has told her it is in discussions with the Northern Land Council about where the waste will be dumped.

"What we've got is a nuclear waste dump being constructed in the Northern Territory under secrecy," she said.

"Why can't this Federal Government be open and honest about what it is they are talking about with the Northern Land Council, if it's going to be Muckaty Station then let us all know."