Four years since the Howard government announced a radioactive waste dump would be built in the Northern Territory, communities from four targeted sites* remains strongly opposed to the plan. Support for their stance is growing nationally, with Trade Unions and national health and environment groups actively supporting the community campaign. 

Kath Martin, grandmother and Traditional Owner of the proposed Mt Everard site (40km from Alice Springs) said, “It is four years now that we have been in limbo, not knowing what is going to happen. We are very much against the dump being out on our land. It is about time the government came to the party and talked to us about it, and to all of the targeted communities.”

Barry Utley, whose pastoral station completely surrounds the Fishers Ridge site, said, “Nothing has changed, we are still at square one and I don’t know whether I am coming or going”. 

“I am looking at subdividing and am concerned about the threat of the waste facility being there.  The proposed dump site is fair smack bang in the middle of my property. The land won’t be worth anything”.

Mr Utley added, “It’s very inconvenient and upsetting not knowing. Some politicians have said to me that they wont put it there, so why won’t they take this site off the list?” 

Dianne Stokes, Traditional Owner for the highly contested Muckaty site (100 km north of Tennant Creek) said, “We want the government to listen, to recognise how long we have been fighting. We want them to stop the waste dump on our land.”

In June this year, Unions NT secretary Matthew Gardiner successfully put a motion through the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Congress, which called on the ALP government to repeal legislation allowing the dump to be forced on the Northern Territory. 

Mr Gardiner said this motion shows broad support for the affected communities from workers right across Australia.