National and Territory environment groups today welcomed Territory Labor’s announcement that Labor Party opposition to the imposition of a national nuclear waste dump on the Northern Territory will stand strong.

“The NT election provides the opportunity for Territorians to send a clear message to Canberra that we don’t want a nuclear waste dump imposed on the Territory. Labor has done that today,” said Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) nuclear free campaigner, Adele Pedder.

“Paul Henderson should demand that Kevin Rudd immediately rule out imposing a nuclear waste dump on Territorians.  All candidates contesting the upcoming Northern Territory election should take a strong stand against the nuclear waste dump.

“Federal Labor, when in Opposition, promised to rip up John Howard’s plan to dump nuclear waste in the Northern Territory, but as a Labor Government, has failed to take the necessary action,” said Ms Pedder.

“The people of the Northern Territory, who will be most affected by a nuclear waste dump, have been left in limbo not knowing if the dump proposal is on or off,” said Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) Beyond Nuclear Initiative Project Coordinator, Natalie Wasley.

“It’s time the Rudd Government delivered on their commitments and told the people of the Territory exactly when the four NT sites nominated by Howard will be revoked,” Ms Wasley said.