The Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI) in the Northern Territory is calling for the federal government to promptly act on a Senate Committee report calling for laws forcing a radioactive waste dump on the NT to be overturned.

The call comes as Liberal Party politicians flag nuclear power as a solution to the climate change crisis, with one sitting Member explicitly recommending the radioactive waste could be dumped on unwilling NT communities.

BNI coordinator Natalie Wasley said “On ABC's Lateline last night, Liberal Senator Judith Troeth said that a 'viable option' for high-level nuclear waste from nuclear power reactors would be to dump it at sites currently being considered for waste from the Lucas Heights nuclear research reactor."

“Targeted communities strongly oppose this plan and are supported by the NT Government. They do not view living and working as close as three kilometers away from a radioactive waste dump as a 'viable option' for their families.”

Ms Wasley added, “Senator Troeth participated in a Senate Committee that recommended in December last year that the government repeal the Howard-era Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act (CRWMA) in the first sittings of 2009”.

“The Committee report recognised injustices imbued in the current legislation, which neither require consent from Traditional Owners to select a dump site, nor allows a legal challenge to the site selection process.”

“Radioactive waste is the nuclear industry’s elephant in the room. After sixty years there is still not a high level waste dump operating anywhere in the world. Senator Troeth might believe that the Australian desert is a political sacrifice zone, but the people living and working there will not stand by and be dumped upon”.

“The previous plan to dump waste in remote South Australia was defeated and Territory communities- supported by the NT Government and a growing movement of trade unions, environment and health organisations- are determined to also win this campaign, ” Ms Wasley concluded.

The Beyond Nuclear Initiative calls on Resources Minister Martin Ferguson to unconditionally repeal the waste dump laws as recommended by the December 2008 Senate Committee report and as promised by the ALP before the last federal election.