PERHAPS proving the unity of psyche and matter, lugubrious, weeping rain has fallen over the Barkly since the Federal Government revealed this week it would pursue plans to build a nuclear waste dump on Muckaty Station.

Dianne Stokes, a Warumungu-Warlmanpa woman whose traditional lands are at the site, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek, said she was shattered by the news even though she expected the Federal Government would sell-out on her people.

“We have been betrayed by the Federal Government and we feel very angry and sad about it,” she said.

“All along we have said we don’t want this dump on our land but we have been ignored.

“[Resources Minister] Martin Ferguson has avoided us and ignored our letters but he knows very well how we feel.

“He has been arrogant and secretive and he thinks he has gotten away with his plan but in fact he has a big fight on his hands.

“We won’t be letting that dump go ahead on our land because our duty is to look after that special place for future generations and that’s exactly what we plan to do.”

The Federal Government repealed the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2008 (CRWMA) on Tuesday, replacing it with a deviously similar bill - chunks of which have been copied word-for-word from the original legislation - which allows a nuclear waste dump to be constructed against the wishes of both Aboriginal landholders and the NT Government.

The Bill also allows any site to be volunteered by landowners although Resources Minister Martin Ferguson admitted that Muckaty was the only site under consideration anywhere in Australia at present.

Clearly the legislation has been rewritten to accommodate the circumstances under which Muckaty was nominated as a site for the nuclear waste dump.

Beyond Nuclear Initiative spokesperson, Nat Wasley, said the new Bill gives Minister Ferguson the power to ride roughshod over all State and Territory laws, along with Aboriginal heritage protection and environmental protection legislation when establishing a dump.

“In opposition, Labor called the CWRMA sordid and draconian,” she said.

“They strongly criticised the nomination at Muckaty.

“Saying this new Bill restores rights to affected communities is blatantly deceptive and we call on Federal Members of Parliament to stand up for their constituents and joint the growing fight against Minister Ferguson’s plans to bulldoze a nuclear dump onto Muckaty station.”

A public meeting will be held in Tennant Creek next Wednesday to discuss the announcement.