The NT Government’s discussion paper on climate change has an inappropriate focus on uranium exports, environmentalists have charged.

Justin Tutty, from the No Waste Alliance, says the discussion paper fails on three counts :
• it is preoccupied with the “nuclear non-solution”;
• it argues for some of the dirtiest polluters in the Territory to be exempt from the anticipated emissions trading scheme;
• and, disappointingly, the significant potential of proven renewable energy options is discounted and dismissed.

“We were shocked to realise the paper erroneously lists nuclear power as renewable, and promotes expansion of uranium mining,” says Mr Tutty

Nat Wasley, from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative in Alice Springs, says the paper is a throwback to the Howard government’s pro-nuclear agenda.

“In 2006, the Liberals defied public opinion to propose 25 unwanted nuclear reactors in Australian cities,” says Ms Wasley

“They failed, because the evidence was stacked against them.

“And Territorians still have the proposal for a federal radioactive dump looming, and there is strong concern that with  increased uranium exports, international pressure will see any national dump expanded to house international waste.”