A SENATE inquiry into the Government’s radioactive waste management bill won’t be holding a hearing in Tennant Creek, despite plans to have the nuclear waste dumped in our pristine backyard.

That’s probably because the slippery sleazes who have set the scene for the dump to proceed at Muckaty are too scared to face those they know they have double-crossed.

Senator Trish Crossin, has been appointed chairperson of the senate inquiry into the radioactive waste management bill.

The bill which allows the Government to override all state and territory laws which would impede the construction of a nuclear waste dump paves the way for its construction at Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek.

It is currently the only site under consideration.

A senate inquiry was requested after the federal coalition agreed to support the bill, allowing its unhindered passage through the House of Representatives last week.

Arrogantly, the senate inquiry committee has decided to hold meetings in Canberra and Darwin only.

This means that Senator Crossin will be able to avoid any confrontation with the people she once vowed to help fight against having a dump imposed on their land.

In a pre-election 2007 joint media release with Senators Kim Carr and MHR Warren Snowdon, Crossin said “Labor will legislate to restore transparency, accountability and procedural fairness including the right of access to appeal mechanisms in any decisions in relation to the sighting [sic] of any nuclear waste facilities.”

Then about three weeks ago, speaking to ABC in defence of her Government’s copy-and-paste version of the Howard Government’s radioactive waste management bill, Crossin said: “Our legislation does allow us to transport the nuclear waste into the Territory because it’s Commonwealth waste and we can transport that across the country at any time and whenever we want to.” she said.

Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues, Senator Scott Ludlam said the Federal Government was trying to silence the Tennant Creek community.

“This is extremely disappointing given that Muckaty Station is the only proposed site for the nation’s first-ever waste dump,” he said.

“Locals will be forced to make the long, expensive trek to Darwin or Canberra to be heard, which is completely unacceptable.”

Senator Ludlam said he urged all Territorians to take part in the inquiry and send a strong message for the Government to install a proper scientific, transparent and acountable process as it promised at the last election.”