Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Aboriginals exploited by new uranium laws

handsoffUranium royalty changes ‘will exploit Aboriginals’
ABC News  Sep 11, 2009

Anti-nuclear activists in Alice Springs say changes to uranium royalties in the Northern Territory will make way for the exploitation of Aboriginal communities.

The bill extends the royalty system so miners pay a fixed rate only if they are making profits, rather than basing the rate on production.

The bill was passed in the federal Senate earlier this week.

Jimmy Cocking from the Arid Lands Environment Centre says the Federal Government has bowed to industry pressure and Aboriginal people will suffer.

“It’s going to be easier for companies to get it up so you might find that companies who are more marginal – not the big producers but the more marginal companies – will start digging and then find out that they can’t even pay for the rehabilitation costs,” he said.

ABC Online Indigenous – News

September 13, 2009 - Posted by | 1, aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium | , , , , ,

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