Tomorrow, 9am, Canberra: Tomorrow a delegation of Aboriginal elders and community members will attend the Senate Inquiry hearings into the controversial Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 to show strong opposition to the Howard-era legislation.

“The CRWMA is undemocratic and violates several of Australia’s international human rights obligations. We voted this legislation out when we dumped Howard”, said Olivia Nigro from the Sydney Nuclear-Free Coalition.

“Last week over 100 people rallied in Alice Springs against the nuclear waste dump while traditional owners expressed their uncompromising opposition to the CWRMA in the Senate Inquiry hearings. We stand by NT Indigenous communities and call for the immediate abandonment of the proposed nuclear waste dump”, said Uncle Dootch Kennedy, Ambassador of the Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy and Chair of the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Lands Council, on whose land the Lucas Heights Reactor stands.

“If the government is truly committed to democracy for all people including Indigenous, we call on them to immediately sign the UN Declaration on Rights for Indigenous Peoples and use its principles to guide decision making that affects communities and country”, concluded Uncle Dootch Kennedy.

“Minister Ferguson has stated the Government wants to ‘fast-track’ the process of dumping highly toxic radioactive waste on unwilling Aboriginal communities. This is not only extremely irresponsible but offensive after the Labor Apology that made strong commitments to consultation”, continued Olivia Nigro.

“The only ‘fast-tracking’ that needs to be done, is the immediate repeal of this undemocratic Howard-era legislation and the establishment of an Independent Public Inquiry to explore the range of radioactive waste management options available. This is the only responsible way forward”, concluded Nigro.