Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has welcomed the recommendations of a Senate Inquiry to scrap the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act.

 

“Labor went to the last election promising to repeal this radioactive legislation", said Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.  

 

"This Committee, with a majority of government Senators has recommended that the election promise will be finally fulfilled in the first weeks of the 2009 Parliament," he said.

 

"When Howard pushed it through, Labor voted against this legislation, saying quite rightly that it was 'extreme, arrogant, heavy-handed, draconian, sorry, sordid, extraordinary and profoundly shameful.'  The Australian Greens couldn't agree more."

 

“The Greens have argued that government should not impose nuclear waste on communities without consultation and the process for the disposal of dangerous waste must be open, accountable and transparent. Government needs to stop obsessing about the postcode and focus on the process. It seems that the committee has heard that message,” said the Greens Spokesperson on Nuclear Issues, Senator Scott Ludlam.

 

"The Greens have signed onto the majority government report because it exposes the deficiencies and consequences of Howard's legislation which has divided Aboriginal communities and sparked a vibrant grassroots campaign, which was even backed by the Northern Territory government," Senator Ludlam concluded.

 

The Inquiry of the Senate’s Environment, Communications and Arts Committee was initiated to investigate Senator Ludlam’s Bill to repeal the Howard Government’s Radioactive Waste Management Act. The Act allowed government to impose nuclear waste on communities against their consent.

 

The Committee has recommended that radiative waste policy should be adopted in consultation with communities, be based on environmental best practice, and be fair and transparent.

 

The report can be downloaded at this link: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eca_ctte/radioactive_waste/index.htm