Antinuclear

Australia’s secretive nuclear waste Bill tramples on Aboriginal rights

“It’s a secretive piece of legislation in that it takes away people’s rights. It specifically removes procedural fairness and legal recourse from the people of Muckaty and it really restricts options for people all round Australia to have their say.

SBS Podcasts : Podcasts: World-News-Australia

25 Feb 2011,By Santilla Chingaipe, Controversial legislation allowing the creation of Australia’s first nuclear waste dump has been passed in the House of Representatives.

The site most likely to be used to the radioactive waste dump is Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.Santilla Chingaipe reports,
The Gillard government is moving to repeal Howard government legislation that forced a nuclear waste dump on the Territory.
In its place would be a new law that opponents say has the same result……

Kylie Sambo is a young Muckaty woman who, as a musician, has become a vocal opponent of a radioactive waste facility on her people’s land.  She says the Minister doesn’t understand the significance of the area to her people.

“That land means a lot to most of our ancestors and to our people. I would like to keep it for the future. For my children, for his children, her children, instead of this waste dump. It’s going to be there forever if they are going to put it, but it’s only going to kill the land.”

Dave Sweeney is from the Australian Conservation Foundation.
He is also opposed to the creation of a nuclear dump at Muckaty Station. Dave Sweeney claims the Minister did not consult many of the owners of Muckaty Station opposed to the dump before tabling the legislation.

“It’s a secretive piece of legislation in that it takes away people’s rights. It specifically removes procedural fairness and legal recourse from the people of Muckaty and it really restricts options for people all round Australia to have their say. The other thing which this legislation does — which is deeply disturbing — is that it overrides all state and territory laws and regulations that might affect the siting of the dump.”…….

Musician Kylie Sambo  says most of the residents of Muckaty didn’t even know it was a nominated site for a nuclear waste dump.

“My family, they weren’t told. We found out through the radio. If they did speak to some of them (traditional land owners), then they weren’t really sure what it meant. because they haven’t had any education and it’s very hard for my people to understand English as much.”
Dave Sweeney says Minister Ferguson does not understand the process of Indigenous land ownership. He says the whole community should have been consulted.

“Traditional ownership is always complex, particularly if you’re not an Aboriginal person and don’t understand the full complexities of that system. What we can see and what is clear is that there is no broad community agreement and consent. What we’re seeing this week is Senior Aboriginal people of the region, taking action in the Federal Court to stop the Federal government’s plan. They’re arguing that they weren’t adequately consulted, that they gave no agreement. So there’s lots of uncertainty about ownership, consultation and consent.”……….

In a protest outside the Minister’s Melbourne office, however, musician Kylie Sambo had a very simple message  Muckaty Station is her home.
“(singing) Don’t waste the Territory. This land means a lot to me. Been living here for centuries, this place we call Muckaty. Don’t waste the Territory. This land means alot to me. Been living here for centuries, this place we call Muckaty.” .

SBS Podcasts : Podcasts: World-News-Australia

February 26, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL