Antinuclear

Muckaty Aboriginal owners do not want nuclear waste dump

Muckaty Traditional Owner Dianne Stokes says: “All along we have said we don’t want this dump on our land but we have been ignored. Martin Ferguson has avoided us and ignored our letters but he knows very well how we feel.

MUCKATY TRADITIONAL OWNERS – PROPOSED RADIOACTIVE WASTE DUMP AT MUCKATY NT, by Jim Green, Feb 2011, Mr Ferguson claims that Ngapa Traditional Owners support the nomination of the Muckaty site. However he knows that many of them oppose the dump. He received a letter opposing the dump in May 2009 signed by 25 Ngapa Traditional Owners and 32 Traditional Owners from other Muckaty groups. While some members of the Muckaty Land Trust support a national waste dump in return for cash benefits and access to improved services, many do not.

In 2008 the NT Labor Conference unanimously called on the Federal Government to exclude Muckaty from consideration as a dump site because the nomination ”was not made with the full and informed consent of all Traditional Owners and affected people and as such does not comply with the Aboriginal Land Rights Act”.

Senior ALP ministers including Jenny Macklin, Kim Carr, Peter Garrett and Warren Snowdon have acknowledged the opposition of many Muckaty Traditional Owners.

The Central Land Council states: “The Central Land Council is disappointed that this Bill validates the Muckaty nomination without acknowledging the dissent and conflict amongst the broader traditional owner group about the process and the agreement. It is not acceptable that access to procedural fairness continues to be excluded in relation to its existing nomination or approval.”

Muckaty Traditional Owner Dianne Stokes says: “All along we have said we don’t want this dump on our land but we have been ignored. Martin Ferguson has avoided us and ignored our letters but he knows very well how we feel. He has been arrogant and secretive and he thinks he has gotten away with his plan but in fact he has a big fight on his hands.”

‘Muckaty Voices’ is a 10-minute video documentary that tells the story of the Muckaty Traditional Owners opposed to a radioactive waste dump on their country. It can be viewed online at <www.beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/video>.

February 12, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL