Don’t dump on the Territory- repeal Howard’s laws: Call for Senate Inquiry to act
Beyond Nuclear Initiative
Media Release
A federal Senate Inquiry into the future of the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act (CWRMA) will hold public hearings at the Crown Plaza in Alice Springs on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th of November.
Four places in the Northern Territory have been nominated as potential sites for a nuclear waste dump under the CWRMA. The decision to hold hearings in the NT came after the inquiry received over 90 submissions calling for the law to be scrapped, many of them from Traditional Owners and community organisations with connections to the nominated sites.
Along with presenting evidence to the committee, community members will hold a public rally outside the venue as the hearings open, at 12pm on Monday November 17th. They say the inquiry is an important opportunity to demonstrate the strong local opposition that exists to the imposition of a nuclear waste dump on the NT.
Natalie Wasley from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative says the CWRMA must be repealed.
“This anti-democratic legislation, introduced by the Howard government, over-rides NT law as well as federal Land Rights and environmental protection legislation. Before the last federal election, the ALP made a clear commitment they would respond to the strong opposition expressed by the majority of Territorians, the NT government and people from affected communities. It is time for them to fulfil that promise”.
“These public hearings are an opportunity for the Senate Committee to hear directly what the different stakeholder groups are saying. People are still very strong in their opposition to the NT nuclear dump plan, three years since the plan was announced. Traditional Owners from the nominated sites are travelling long distances to speak to the Committee and I hope that many Alice Springs residents will join them”, concluded Ms Wasley.
Mitch, an Arrente-Luritja woman, who speaks up about the nominated Harts Range site has welcomed the Committee’s decision to come to Alice Springs.
“We are happy they are coming to Alice Springs to hear the voices. They’re showing respect where the responsible Ministers have not. We hope for a grass-roots resolution that suits everyone in the Northern Territory and ensures best scientific practice when dealing with nuclear waste in Australia. We don’t want to follow along the lines of Germany, or other examples around the world, where there are huge problems with dealing with nuclear waste.”
“Don’t take our rights to a future away from us. We all stand in solidarity together, people from each site, and we will continue to oppose it. We need a summit that doesn’t involve the mining industry or the government so we can debate the facts openly and honestly”.
“Once again we call on Martin Ferguson to come to the Northern Territory and meet with affected communities”, concluded Mitch.
Four places in the Northern Territory have been nominated as potential sites for a nuclear waste dump under the CWRMA. The decision to hold hearings in the NT came after the inquiry received over 90 submissions calling for the law to be scrapped, many of them from Traditional Owners and community organisations with connections to the nominated sites.
Along with presenting evidence to the committee, community members will hold a public rally outside the venue as the hearings open, at 12pm on Monday November 17th. They say the inquiry is an important opportunity to demonstrate the strong local opposition that exists to the imposition of a nuclear waste dump on the NT.
Natalie Wasley from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative says the CWRMA must be repealed.
“This anti-democratic legislation, introduced by the Howard government, over-rides NT law as well as federal Land Rights and environmental protection legislation. Before the last federal election, the ALP made a clear commitment they would respond to the strong opposition expressed by the majority of Territorians, the NT government and people from affected communities. It is time for them to fulfil that promise”.
“These public hearings are an opportunity for the Senate Committee to hear directly what the different stakeholder groups are saying. People are still very strong in their opposition to the NT nuclear dump plan, three years since the plan was announced. Traditional Owners from the nominated sites are travelling long distances to speak to the Committee and I hope that many Alice Springs residents will join them”, concluded Ms Wasley.
Mitch, an Arrente-Luritja woman, who speaks up about the nominated Harts Range site has welcomed the Committee’s decision to come to Alice Springs.
“We are happy they are coming to Alice Springs to hear the voices. They’re showing respect where the responsible Ministers have not. We hope for a grass-roots resolution that suits everyone in the Northern Territory and ensures best scientific practice when dealing with nuclear waste in Australia. We don’t want to follow along the lines of Germany, or other examples around the world, where there are huge problems with dealing with nuclear waste.”
“Don’t take our rights to a future away from us. We all stand in solidarity together, people from each site, and we will continue to oppose it. We need a summit that doesn’t involve the mining industry or the government so we can debate the facts openly and honestly”.
“Once again we call on Martin Ferguson to come to the Northern Territory and meet with affected communities”, concluded Mitch.