Antinuclear

Australian govt sneaks in controversial radioactive waste report right on Christmas time

The laws would allow a site to be established anywhere in Australia rather than just the Northern Territory, overriding state and territory laws…the report was tabled while parliament was not sitting and just three days before Christmas…..

Greens cynical about radioactive report, Sydney Morning Herald, Andrea Hayward, December 22, 2010 –  Conservationists and the Australian Greens are cynical about the timing of a report giving the thumbs up for draft laws to establish a radioactive waste dump.

Energy Minister Martin Ferguson introduced the draft laws to parliament earlier this year, saying they would ensure the safe management of medical, industrial and research radioactive material.

A lower house committee was formed to examine the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 and tabled its report on Wednesday, recommending they be passed.

The laws would allow a site to be established anywhere in Australia rather than just the Northern Territory, overriding state and territory laws.

Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek, is one of the sites the federal government has considered after it was volunteered by a branch of the Ngapa tribe in 2007.

But traditional owners of the site have taken their fight against the waste dump to the Federal Court.

The Australian Greens have described the process as a whitewash. Greens MP Adam Bandt said the lower house committee had refused to hear from the public or the area’s traditional owners……”This is Martin Ferguson’s appalling Christmas present for the people of Muckaty,” Mr Bandt said.

Mr Bandt said the report asked Mr Ferguson to meet the traditional owners – but so far he hadn’t.

“The traditional owners of the proposed waste dump site, Muckaty Station, have also written to him requesting that he meet with them,” Mr Bandt said.

“Martin Ferguson has ignored them.

“Instead of asking why or inviting the traditional owners to appear before the committee, the house committee chose not to receive any public submissions or any new information.”

The draft laws would override the wishes of traditional owners, said Mr Bandt who, as a member of the committee, gave a dissenting report.

He said it was interesting the report was tabled while parliament was not sitting and just three days before Christmas….
Greens cynical about radioactive report

December 22, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, wastes