Antinuclear

Labor MP to fight against NT nuclear waste dump

Hale to fight own party against nuclear dump  ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) By Louisa Rebgetz 20 Feb 2010
As speculation mounts that a nuclear waste dump will be located in the Northern Territory, MP Damian Hale says he will “fight tooth and nail” to prevent it happening.

The Federal Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson, is expected to make an announcement regarding the waste dump in the coming days.

But Mr Hale, the Labor Member for Solomon, says he is prepared to do whatever it takes to stop a waste dump being built in the Territory.

“I’m quite prepared to go against the wishes of the Minister and of the bureaucracy that have put this if that is the decision that comes forward,” he said.

“We will fight tooth and nail.”

He said Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek has received much of the attention.

“Muckaty Station has been one of those areas that have been spoken about more and more but the science didn’t add up for Muckaty at the start,” he said.

“Really, I think it’s come down to the fact that state governments have said, ‘No, we need to find a place’.

“And the Northern territory is obviously, because the Commonwealth can come in and basically stand over us, it looks as if they are going to try to, if it comes to that … to try to stand over us.”

Mr Hale is meeting with Mr Ferguson on Monday to discuss the matter.

“I would be happy enough to debate this in Parliament and put forward a private member’s motion that we do not support a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory.”

Hale to fight own party against nuclear dump – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

February 20, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Northern Territory, politics | aboriginal, Australia, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radioactive