Four years too long: Aboriginal women say ‘time to dump the nuclear dump’
Beyond Nuclear Initiative
Media Release
Aboriginal women from communities targeted for radioactive waste transport and storage are in Sydney today speaking at Powershift, a national youth climate change conference.
They will hold a press conference in the foyer of the UTS tower building at 10:30am on Monday July 13, calling for the government to repeal federal laws facilitating the NT dump and remove the nuclear waste management portfolio from Minister Martin Ferguson.
Wednesday July 15 will mark four years since the former Howard government announced the federal dump plan for the Northern Territory, a policy the Rudd government is continuing.
Rebecca Bear Wingfield, spokesperson for the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta Aboriginal Women’s Council that successfully fought a waste dump in South Australia, expressed her disappointment and outrage that the NT plan is still on the table. “Public opposition stopped the radioactive waste dump in South Australia and Kokatha women who fought the SA dump have resolved to help their family who are now being targeted. We will support any community that is targeted for a radioactive dump.”
Donna Jackson, a representative from Larrakia Nation, which is opposed to radioactive waste transport through Darwin Harbour said “The Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act (CRWMA) clearly contravenes articles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which state ‘no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples without free, prior and informed consent’.”
“It is hypocritical of the ALP Government to support the UN-DRIP and continue with Howard’s waste dump plan. The Northern Land Council, which nominated the Muckaty site for the dump, should stop disempowering Traditional Owners of Muckaty Land Trust who oppose the dump”.
Mitch, an Arrernte/Luritja woman from Engawala community near the Alcoota (Harts Range) dump site said she is “bitterly disappointed” with Martin Ferguson’s recent comments that he will pick a site for the federal waste dump before he consults with the targeted community.
“This is a shameful attempt to silence the majority of Territorians that oppose the nuclear waste dump. Minister Ferguson has not visited any of the affected NT sites in the time he has held office. The ongoing policies of genocide that surrounds the nuclear industry are a shameful blight on this nation and its people”.
“It is the government’s political obligation, and international best practice, to undertake proper consultation with affected communities”.
“Four years is an unacceptable amount of time to have this waste dump issue unresolved. The ALP promised to repeal the CRWMA, the NT dump legislation. We call on the Prime Minister to immediately dump the NT dump and remove the radioactive waste portfolio from Martin Ferguson”.
They will hold a press conference in the foyer of the UTS tower building at 10:30am on Monday July 13, calling for the government to repeal federal laws facilitating the NT dump and remove the nuclear waste management portfolio from Minister Martin Ferguson.
Wednesday July 15 will mark four years since the former Howard government announced the federal dump plan for the Northern Territory, a policy the Rudd government is continuing.
Rebecca Bear Wingfield, spokesperson for the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta Aboriginal Women’s Council that successfully fought a waste dump in South Australia, expressed her disappointment and outrage that the NT plan is still on the table. “Public opposition stopped the radioactive waste dump in South Australia and Kokatha women who fought the SA dump have resolved to help their family who are now being targeted. We will support any community that is targeted for a radioactive dump.”
Donna Jackson, a representative from Larrakia Nation, which is opposed to radioactive waste transport through Darwin Harbour said “The Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act (CRWMA) clearly contravenes articles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which state ‘no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples without free, prior and informed consent’.”
“It is hypocritical of the ALP Government to support the UN-DRIP and continue with Howard’s waste dump plan. The Northern Land Council, which nominated the Muckaty site for the dump, should stop disempowering Traditional Owners of Muckaty Land Trust who oppose the dump”.
Mitch, an Arrernte/Luritja woman from Engawala community near the Alcoota (Harts Range) dump site said she is “bitterly disappointed” with Martin Ferguson’s recent comments that he will pick a site for the federal waste dump before he consults with the targeted community.
“This is a shameful attempt to silence the majority of Territorians that oppose the nuclear waste dump. Minister Ferguson has not visited any of the affected NT sites in the time he has held office. The ongoing policies of genocide that surrounds the nuclear industry are a shameful blight on this nation and its people”.
“It is the government’s political obligation, and international best practice, to undertake proper consultation with affected communities”.
“Four years is an unacceptable amount of time to have this waste dump issue unresolved. The ALP promised to repeal the CRWMA, the NT dump legislation. We call on the Prime Minister to immediately dump the NT dump and remove the radioactive waste portfolio from Martin Ferguson”.