Process not postcodes needed for radioactive waste management
Natalie Wasley
Arid Lands Environment Centre
The Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI) Alice Springs welcomes the commitment from Warren Snowdon today that Labor will be “finding a national solution” for radioactive waste management (ABC online 27/02/08).
Snowdon, Federal member for Lingiari, where all dump sites proposed by the Howard government were located, was also quoted as saying he “cannot entirely rule out” the possibility of a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory, adding “it is a Commonwealth and Territory decision and one which must be negotiated and carefully considered”.
Though agreeing that this important national issue must be ‘carefully considered’ and managed, BNI campaigner Natalie Wasley reiterated that during the Howard Government attempt to force a federal dump on the NT, there was clear opposition from the NT Government and people throughout the Territory, not just from the targeted communities.
Wasley stated “Labor should not speculate on where a dump may or may not be located until they have followed through with their election commitment to repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act (CRWMA) that was rammed through to foist the dump on the NT”.
“This legislation overrode Territory laws that make transport and storage of federal radioactive waste illegal and wiped out the usual processes of administrative review and judicial appeal regarding the dump site selection. Repeal is the first important step to demonstrating commitment to responsible and democratic ways of dealing with radioactive waste”.
Wasley called upon the Federal Government to notify affected communities and stakeholder organisations when the CRWMA legislative repeal will occur.
“The Howard style ad-hoc process we have seen over the last decade, shuffling waste between rural postcodes with lower political clout, must stop. Labor has committed to thorough community consultation and rigorous scientific assessment in radioactive waste management and we call upon them to follow this through expediently”.
“People at the targeted sites have been waiting since the federal election for some reassurance that their two and a half year campaign opposing the Howard dump plan can be wound up.” Wasley concluded.
BNI calls for Labor to publicly announce repeal of the CRWMA and undertake an open and accountable process. Any inquiry should include in the terms of reference a number options aside from a remote dump, including returning the spent fuel waste to Lucas Heights for interim storage.
Snowdon, Federal member for Lingiari, where all dump sites proposed by the Howard government were located, was also quoted as saying he “cannot entirely rule out” the possibility of a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory, adding “it is a Commonwealth and Territory decision and one which must be negotiated and carefully considered”.
Though agreeing that this important national issue must be ‘carefully considered’ and managed, BNI campaigner Natalie Wasley reiterated that during the Howard Government attempt to force a federal dump on the NT, there was clear opposition from the NT Government and people throughout the Territory, not just from the targeted communities.
Wasley stated “Labor should not speculate on where a dump may or may not be located until they have followed through with their election commitment to repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act (CRWMA) that was rammed through to foist the dump on the NT”.
“This legislation overrode Territory laws that make transport and storage of federal radioactive waste illegal and wiped out the usual processes of administrative review and judicial appeal regarding the dump site selection. Repeal is the first important step to demonstrating commitment to responsible and democratic ways of dealing with radioactive waste”.
Wasley called upon the Federal Government to notify affected communities and stakeholder organisations when the CRWMA legislative repeal will occur.
“The Howard style ad-hoc process we have seen over the last decade, shuffling waste between rural postcodes with lower political clout, must stop. Labor has committed to thorough community consultation and rigorous scientific assessment in radioactive waste management and we call upon them to follow this through expediently”.
“People at the targeted sites have been waiting since the federal election for some reassurance that their two and a half year campaign opposing the Howard dump plan can be wound up.” Wasley concluded.
BNI calls for Labor to publicly announce repeal of the CRWMA and undertake an open and accountable process. Any inquiry should include in the terms of reference a number options aside from a remote dump, including returning the spent fuel waste to Lucas Heights for interim storage.