Traditional owners to fight nuke dump in court

Anthea Kissel
ABC News Online

A lawyer representing traditional owners of Muckaty Station says he will argue in court that the Federal Government has no right to select the area as the site of a nuclear waste dump.

Some traditional owners of Muckaty Station, north of Tennant Creek, say they were not properly consulted about plans to construct the waste facility.

Lawyer George Newhouse says he will be seeking a declaration against the Government's decision when the case is heard in the Federal Court on Monday.

"The nomination of Muckaty as a proposed site is void," he said.

"It is void because proper process wasn't followed and the traditional owners for that site were not consulted and did not agree."

He says the challenge against the proposal is not focused on securing compensation.

"This case is about proper processes not being followed and a nomination of the site being void.

"It really isn't about, it's not a compensation claim at all."


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