Antinuclear

Ferguson: we choose nuclear waste dump site first, and consult afterwards

Govt won’t consult on nuclear waste site
WA Today Tara Ravens * August 21, 2009 –
Environmentalists are outraged federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson will not consult before deciding on the location of a nuclear waste dump site and have accused him of seeking a “short-term political fix” to the issue.

A letter from about 60 traditional owners of Aboriginal land at Muckaty Station, 120km north of Tennant Creek, was tabled in federal parliament earlier this week.The land was controversially nominated as a possible site for a waste dump by the Northern Land Council last year.
But the letter, which calls for a meeting with Mr Ferguson, details widespread opposition to a waste facility.

Mr Ferguson’s office on Thursday told the ABC there would be no consultation with concerned Northern Territory traditional owners until a final decision was made on where to build a nuclear waste facility.”Telling people your plans is not consultation,” said Beyond Nuclear Initiative spokesperson Natalie Wasley………………..

The Howard government named the NT as the site for Australia’s next repository for low-level nuclear waste in 2005 and passed legislation that allowed it to be forced on the region .

Harts Range, Fishers Ridge, Muckaty Station and Mount Everard were short-listed as possible sites.

In April this year, Mr Ferguson promised the Rudd government would stand by an election commitment to scrap the legislation but he said it would not be giving up the search for a suitable site somewhere in Australia.

Govt won’t consult on nuclear waste site | watoday.com.au

August 22, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, civil liberties, uranium | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, civil liberties, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radioactive, uranium