Antinuclear

Muckaty Australia’s Nuclear Waste Dump now – but What’s Next?

The nuclear waste dump battle is far from over. The Rudd government got elected partly on its promise to overturn Howard’s Radioactive Waste Management Act. Now, a tame Senate Inquiry has endorsed Rudd’s even more draconic National Radioactive Waste Management Bill.

Orchestrated by Australia’s fine Minister For Promoting the Nuclear Industry, Martin Ferguson, the new Bill opens the way for a radioactive waste dump to be imposed on Aboriginal land, against the will of its traditional owners, of the regional community, and the Northern Territory Government.

But that’s not all. Along with the Northern Territory Intervention, this Bill opens the door to further encroachment on the rights of all Australians, not only Aboriginals.

And – yesterday’s announcement of an agreement between the Australian Government and the Obam administration on nuclear technology, will soon be followed by a Obama’s visit to Australia. The timing of all this is remarkable.  The Muckaty nuclear waste dump is supposed to take the returned Lucas Heights nuclear waste.

But what’s next for Australia – which remains a signatory to the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership?

May 8, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina reviews, uranium | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, indigenous, Lucas Heights, Muckaty, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, renewable, uranium