Ferguson should rethink NT Nuclear Dump
Senator Scott Ludlam
Media Release
The Australian Greens say Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson should rethink plans for a nuclear dump in the Northern Territory after evidence to a Senate Inquiry revealed strong opposition from traditional owners.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, in Alice Springs today for the second day of a Senate Inquiry, said he was deeply disturbed to see the feeling of betrayal in the Indigenous community over nuclear dump plans for the Northern Territory - and Muckaty station north of Tennant Creek in particular.
"Indigenous people at Muckaty are being told it's not their land and they don't have a say on where the nuclear waste from Lucas Heights will be dumped."
"To witness traditional owners told the proposed site is not their land and they don't have a say is just outrageous."
"While Muckaty is one of the sites being considered - it's clear to me the depth of feeling is repeated across the Territory at other proposed sites."
Senator Ludlam said at issue was Federal legislation that allows a nuclear dump to be established in the Northern Territory. Minister Martin Ferguson has so far failed to deliver a Labor election promise to overturn the Howard Government's Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act, which earmarks a series of sites for nuclear waste dumps, with Muckaty Station the front runner.
Senator Ludlam said that it in light of the views of the majority of traditional owners across the Territory, it now was incumbent on Minister Ferguson to overturn the legislation, thereby fulfilling a key Rudd election promise.
"It's clear the overwhelming majority of traditional owners at Muckaty are against this dump. They haven't been consulted and some are feeling tricked by the process undertaken so far."
"It's also clear that Territorians overwhelmingly feel that there should be no nuclear waste dump in the Territory."
"How can Martin Ferguson in Melbourne wash his hands of this issue and allow small Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory to cop this waste in a repeat of the worst nuclear colonialism of the past?"
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, in Alice Springs today for the second day of a Senate Inquiry, said he was deeply disturbed to see the feeling of betrayal in the Indigenous community over nuclear dump plans for the Northern Territory - and Muckaty station north of Tennant Creek in particular.
"Indigenous people at Muckaty are being told it's not their land and they don't have a say on where the nuclear waste from Lucas Heights will be dumped."
"To witness traditional owners told the proposed site is not their land and they don't have a say is just outrageous."
"While Muckaty is one of the sites being considered - it's clear to me the depth of feeling is repeated across the Territory at other proposed sites."
Senator Ludlam said at issue was Federal legislation that allows a nuclear dump to be established in the Northern Territory. Minister Martin Ferguson has so far failed to deliver a Labor election promise to overturn the Howard Government's Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act, which earmarks a series of sites for nuclear waste dumps, with Muckaty Station the front runner.
Senator Ludlam said that it in light of the views of the majority of traditional owners across the Territory, it now was incumbent on Minister Ferguson to overturn the legislation, thereby fulfilling a key Rudd election promise.
"It's clear the overwhelming majority of traditional owners at Muckaty are against this dump. They haven't been consulted and some are feeling tricked by the process undertaken so far."
"It's also clear that Territorians overwhelmingly feel that there should be no nuclear waste dump in the Territory."
"How can Martin Ferguson in Melbourne wash his hands of this issue and allow small Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory to cop this waste in a repeat of the worst nuclear colonialism of the past?"