Wednesday 17 May 2006
The Greens
WA Greens Senator Rachel Siewert

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert is in Darwin tonight to support the community campaign to stop the nuclear waste dump from going ahead in the Northern Territory.

"We warned last year that any national dump in the Territory would be the thin end of the wedge - now George Bush has confirmed it for us," Senator Siewert said. "I call on the Prime Minister to come to the Territory and explain his position to the public."

"Prime Minister Howard has gone into damage control over US proposals for Australia to accept spent nuclear fuel shipments as a consequence of expanding uranium mining. This proposal might solve a political headache for President Bush, but it certainly creates one for John Howard."

"The nuclear industry has never solved the waste issue, which is one of the reasons the Greens oppose any expansion of uranium mining. There is huge international pressure for someone to take the waste so that the industry can expand. I am extremely concerned that if John Howard allows the industry to get a foot in the door here, the floodgates will open."

"Greens policy on these issues is clear: we do not support dumping this material in remote locations, and nor do we support any expansion of the industry which is creating this intractable waste."

"There are simpler ways to boil water than nuclear fission," the Senator concluded.