Thursday, 16 November, 2006

ABC News Online

Indemnity issues have stalled the planned handover of a former nuclear test site to South Australian Aborigines.

Negotiations between the Maralinga Tjarutja people and the state and federal governments have been taking place for several years.

It was hoped the handover would take place on the 50th anniversary of British nuclear testing, two months ago.

The prohibited section of land in the state's north is more than 3,000 square kilometres.

A legal adviser to the Maralinga people, Andrew Collett, says the handover was hoped for in September, but it is now likely to happen early next year.

Mr Collett says there are still issues with plutonium contamination and that could lead to personal injury claims in the future.

"The indemnity is the way in which the risk of Maralinga Tjarutja and the State Government will be insured against," he said.

"In other words, the Commonwealth will indemnify those two bodies if anyone sues and recovers against Maralinga Tjarutja or the state of South Australia for personal injury or for property damage."