Thursday, 22 November, 2007

by Charles Roche, Coordinator
Environment Centre of the Northern Territory

New polling released today by the Environment Centre of the NT (ECNT) shows strong community concern over federal government plans for more nuclear activities on and around Darwin Harbour.

Over two thirds of people polled were opposed to nuclear waste ships using the Harbour, three quarters opposed uranium processing in the Harbour region and a massive 88% oppose any plans to import and store international radioactive waste in the NT.

The polling has been conducted by ECNT over the past two weeks to gauge community opinion on nuclear issues ahead of Saturday’s election and is based on a commercial poll sample size chosen at random from across the Solomon electorate.

“Nuclear waste is clearly on the nose with people right across Darwin and Palmerston,” said ECNT co-ordinator Charles Roche.

“People want less nuclear activity on and around the Harbour and no ships dropping the nation’s – or the world’s – radioactive waste on Darwin”.   

The poll result follows a series of ECNT radio advertisements and the distribution of material highlighting the threat posed to Darwin Harbour by the federal government’s radioactive waste dump plan.

“With just a few days to ‘the one poll that matters’ all the candidates would do well to heed the clear no radioactive waste message of this poll,” said Charles Roche.

 

Further poll information/ comment:

 

Charles Roche           0448 887 303

Emma King                0429 818 109

 

Note: # In June 2007 the Liberal Party federal council passed a resolution that supports Australia expanding its current nuclear industry to incorporate the entire uranium fuel cycle and worldwide nuclear waste storage.

Detailed information on the nuclear policies and performance of all the political parties can be found at www.votenuclearfree.net

Poll questions attached below:

 

The Liberal Party’s federal Council voted in June 2007 to investigate Australia importing and storing international nuclear waste.

Do you support the importation and storage of international nuclear waste in the NT?

 

 

If a nuclear waste facility is established in the NT long lived nuclear waste from Lucas Heights that is currently being reprocessed in Europe is likely to be imported through Darwin Harbour.

Do you support importing long lived nuclear waste through Darwin Harbour?

 

Mining company Arafura Resources wants to process ore that includes uranium at a site on Middle Arm in Darwin Harbour.

 

Do you support building a uranium processing mill in Darwin Harbour?