BNI Project Coordinator Natalie Wasley says the nausea, vomiting and health effects experienced by roadwork crews highlight the threat to workers, communities and the environment if the proposed radioactive dump at Muckaty in the NT goes ahead.

 

“Radioactive materials such as those buried on the side of the Pacific Highway in 1980 can be radioactive for hundreds of years. There is no way this waste should have been buried at an unmarked site next to the highway and it is inexcusable that roadwork crews were exposed to these materials without proper training or equipment. Clearly there are inadequate regulations and procedures in place for radiological incidents.”

 

Ms Wasley continued, “Resources Minister Ferguson is pursuing plans to transport radioactive spent fuel thousands of kilometers to a remote site in the Northern Territory, which has fewer trained emergency responders, less equipment and response capability than NSW. This incident should be a wake up call to the Prime Minister and Resources Minister to immediately drop the Muckaty plan.”

 

“Government agencies have admitted that political not scientific reasons are driving the pursuit of a remote site for federal radioactive waste. It is time to put worker and community safety ahead of short-term political thinking.”

 

Beyond Nuclear Initiative works with a broad range of environment groups, health organisations and trade unions that have been calling for an independent inquiry into radioactive waste management.

 

“The bullish approach of successive federal governments in simply pursuing remote sites through a ‘Decide-Announce-Defend’ model has seen little progress in the past few decades. It is time for genuine engagement and consideration of input from a range of stakeholder groups on this important issue through a comprehensive inquiry.” Ms Wasley concluded.