Wednesday, 6 December, 2006

National Indigenous Times

CANBERRA, December 6, 2006: A bill allowing for land to be returned to traditional owners after being used to store nuclear waste has passed the Senate, despite fierce opposition from Labor and the minor parties.

The Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 will override attempts by the Northern Territory government to halt the establishment of radioactive waste dumps within its boundaries.

It will also enable land to be returned to its traditional owners if it had been "volunteered" for a radioactive waste dump, but only after the land had been declared all clear would it be returned.

Opponents claim the bill weakens Indigenous communities' decision-making regarding their land, while making it easier for the government to expand Australia's nuclear industry.

"(The bill is) a pointer to the methods the Howard government intends to use in imposing nuclear power stations and high level waste dumps on unsuspecting communities right around Australia," Labor senator Ursula Stephens told parliament.

"Labor will defend the right of the community, including Indigenous communities, to be properly and fully consulted before decisions are made about the location of radioactive waste dumps."

But NT Country Liberal Party Senator Nigel Scullion denied the bill would disadvantage Indigenous communities.

"The purpose of this bill is very basic - first of all it is to ensure the land is returned to Indigenous Australians after the facility is no longer required and it ensures that it puts beyond the reach of those causing mischief," he said.

"I'd have to say that those people in this place who say that we have trampled all over the rights of Indigenous territorians, I think that's an absolute fallacy - it's quite the opposite.

"Indigenous territorians have said quite clearly that they want the right to be able to nominate a site on their land if they chose."

However Greens Senator Christine Milne maintained the opinion that Aboriginal communities and their management of their land would be weakened by the government's bill.

"What they are doing here is undermining the capacity of traditional owners to exercise the ownership rights they have over their land," she said.

This was echoed by Australian Democrats leader Lyn Allison, who said the legislation was in essence taking away native title.