Wednesday, 31 January, 2007

by Natalie Wasley
Arid Lands Environment Centre

Territorians are shocked by Science Minister Julie Bishop's assertions that no one is living near the proposed sites for the Commonwealth radioactive waste dump in the NT, when each of the areas being considered has communities within a ten kilometre radius.

At the event marking the closure of the Lucas Heights HIFAR nuclear reactor yesterday, speaking on the NT dump proposal, the Minister asserted that:

"...all the sites in the NT are well away from houses", and that the three sites
"are some distance from any form of civilisation" (ABC online, Jan 30, 2007)

Natalie Wasley from the Arid Land Environment Centre in Alice Springs, says these comments are uninformed, and indicative of the Federal Government's unwillingness to engage and involve targeted communities in discussions around this controversial issue.

"The Minister's statements regarding the proposed dump sites are incorrect, insensitive and inappropriate. There are communities extremely close to each of the areas under investigation, all of which have strongly and frequently said no to the proposal. It can hardly be considered a civilised act to force a radioactive waste dump on an unwilling community", Ms Wasley stated.

She added, "It is outrageous that Julie Bishop was so cavalier to say that the sites are 'some distance from any form of civilisation'. Traditional owners, pastoralists and communities directly affected by the proposal have attempted to engage with the Government and have made it clear that they oppose the dump. This begs the question what 'social perspective', a component put forward as important by the Minister, is being considered in the assessments".

"Despite the ongoing efforts of local communities, the Minister has failed to realise that the plan to dump Commonwealth radioactive waste in the Territory actively undermines a range of values and land uses in areas where people practice the oldest living culture, the oldest civilisation, on Earth. Bishop is pushing the Government's nuclear agenda in the Territory by announcing the targeted areas as terra nullius".

"As Julie Bishop seems unaware that people live so close to the sites, traditional owners have suggested that she come to the Territory and visit communities in the immediate vicinity of the potential dump sites. Until then, she cannot credibly assert that the dump plan and process is democratic or adhering to international best practice, which would entail community participation", concluded Ms Wasley.