Minister’s beef with waste

Beef exports would plummet after a nuclear waste storage facility was built in the Territory, a Government minister told a public forum last night.

NT Mines and Energy Minister Kon Vatskalis said rumours would be spread overseas about contaminated water in the Territory.

‘Who wants to buy cattle from the Territory when they have radioactive waste?’ Mr Vatskalis asked an audience at the Crowne Plaza in Darwin.

‘Would you buy it? I wouldn’t.’

More than 110 people were at the forum, organised by the Environment Center of the NT, which federal Science Minister Brendan Nelson declined an invitation to attend.

Solomon MHR David Tollner attended but instead of speaking he issued a flyer that said a low- and intermediate-level disposal facility was necessary to store radioactive waste from Sydney’s Lucas Heights reactor.

‘The highest international standards will be met to ensure safety and environmental concerns’, the flyer said.

Australian Conservation Foundation anti-nuclear campaigner Dave Sweeney urged Territorians to keep fighting the waste disposal proposal, and cited South Australia’s successful opposition.

Labor Senator Trish Crossin said sites that were considered unsuitable last year, such as Mount Everard, 42km northwest of Alice Springs, were now on the short list of three possible sites.