Dear Editor,

Prime Minister Rudd has called for politics to be taken out of radioactive waste management, and to 'make sure that any advice to Government is based on science' (ABC June 16, 2008).

Clearly, the Prime Minister should then reject the four proposed dump sites in the NT left decaying from the Howard era of Decide-Announce-Defend politics. None of these sites were short listed in a scientific study undertaken to site a national dump (completed 1997). Howard's plan was to find the site of least political resistance, then try and make the science match.

To differentiate from this process, and find an equitable solution to a very long-term problem, Rudd must act on ALP election commitments; repeal the draconian legislation forcing a dump on the NT and undertake thorough and genuine community consultation over this important national issue.