Aboriginal opposition to National Land Council’s Nuclear Waste Dump Agreement
“You and your organisation should be embarrassed hiding behind legislation that suspends the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (1976).”
N-dump anger The Guardian , 24 March 2010. Darren Coyne, Opposition is mounting against a proposal to site a national radioactive dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory despite the Northern Land Council (NLC) insisting it has the support of traditional owners. Meetings, protests and angry statements have been the fall-out since a recent announcement by Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson…………
Central Land Council (CLC) director David Ross also said the Muckaty site should not be imposed on the community.
Mr Ross said Muckaty, north of Tennant Creek, was outside the Central Land Council’s region, but some traditional owners of that site lived in the CLC’s area.
We have had representations from people who are opposed to the nomination of Muckaty and I can only urge the Minister and the NLC to now deal with the process under section 19 of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, which will ensure that a proper process is followed,” Mr Ross said.
“An outcome forced on a divided group will entrench divisions and lead to on-going disputation and social problems. This is certainly not best practice for site selection of radioactive facilities.”
In a statement from the Alyawarra walk-off camp, spokesman Richard Downs launched a direct attack on NLC Chief Executive Kim Hill and his assertion that consultation had been carried out with traditional owners of Muckaty Station.
“Yet there are other Aboriginal leaders, Elders and family’s voices who are against the proposal not being heard,” Mr Downs said. “They have been completely shut out of any consultation.
“The Land Council should be aware all lands are shared and managed in a way with other clan family groups… the land is not only connected and managed by a particular traditional owner, but through country, dreaming, spirituality. It is part of the extended network of family group lines.
“You and your organisation should be embarrassed hiding behind legislation that suspends the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (1976).”
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