Martin Ferguson's radioactive racism
Wednesday, 13 September, 2006
Beyond Nuclear Initiative
Friends of the Earth, Australian Conservation Foundation, Poola Foundation (Tom Kantor Fund)
Traditional Owners and environment groups are today responding to an ill-informed attack by Labor resources spokesperson Martin Ferguson. Ferguson focussed his attack - in parliament last Thursday and in today's Australian Financial Review - on the Beyond Nuclear Symposium to be held in Melbourne this Friday and Saturday.
Ferguson states: "For too long anti-nuclear campaigners, various environmental NGOs, and other interest groups, have used indigenous communities to peddle their own ideology. ... The simple fact is that indigenous empowerment is not in the interests of special interest groups. Paternalism - the real "radioactive racism" - is. Fortunately, indigenous communities are starting to make their own decisions about these issues."
Responding to Ferguson's diatribe, Mitch, an Eastern Arrernte/Luritja woman from Alice Springs, said: "When the NT nuclear waste dump was announced, my Elders from the community Harts Range site gave me permission to set up a protest camp and speak out against it. The Alice Springs community and environment groups supported us, but they have never pressured us into anything or put words in our mouths. My family and I have done a lot of our own research on nuclear issues in the Alice Library and also by watching documentaries. We have asked repeatedly for more information from the Government but they have only told us that it is safe and there is no reason why people "in the middle of nowhere" can't have a dump. If it's so safe, why can't they keep it in Sydney? We stand strong in our own culture as Indigenous people, and want the land and water to be protected for all children, black and white."
Beyond Nuclear Symposium organiser Louise Morris said: "Indigenous communities have always made their own decisions about nuclear proposals and it is offensive and paternalistic for Ferguson to suggest otherwise. All too often Indigenous communities say 'no' to nuclear projects, only to have their opposition ignored. It is an outrage for Ferguson to attack environment groups for supporting Indigenous communities and to attack the Beyond Nuclear Symposium for providing an opportunity for Traditional Owners to get their message out to a wider audience."
The first Symposium session on Friday will be addressed by Arrernte nations campaigner Margie Lynch, whose land in central Australia is being targeted by the Howard government for a nuclear waste dump. Adnyamathanha Traditional Owner Jillian Marsh will also address the Symposium. The Beverley uranium mine is situated on Adnyamathanha land in SA, and Ms. Marsh is undertaking PhD research into the Beverley decision-making process.
At a recent debate in Melbourne, Ferguson was asked repeatedly what he intends to do about the indefensible and racist situation whereby the Roxby Downs uranium mine in SA is exempt from the Aboriginal Heritage Protection Act. Ferguson's silence was deafening.
In a powerful submission to the House of Representatives uranium inquiry, which includes Ferguson, Senior Mirarr Traditional Owner Yvonne Margarula explained the Mirarr's unanimous opposition to the Ranger uranium mine in the NT. She concluded: "None of the problems last but the problems always do." Does Ferguson support the unanimous opposition of the Mirarr to the Ranger mine? Of course not - that would upset Ferguson's 'special interest group' - mining company Rio Tinto.