Antinuclear

Politicians urged to halt controversial Muckaty radioactive waste dump plan

 26 Aug 13, Traditional Owners taking legal action against a proposed national radioactive waste dump at Muckaty in the Northern Territory have called on all political parties to halt the plan until the Federal Court has considered the case.

The call comes ahead of a directions hearing today in Melbourne where an expert anthropological report has been filed by law firm Maurice Blackburn which is representing the Traditional Owners.

Key issues of ownership, consultation and consent are now under the spotlight as Aboriginal opponents of the dump plan seek to get the Muckaty site nomination declared invalid.

Traditional Owners and national environment groups are urging all political parties to make a clear commitment not to advance the dump plan during the Court process.

“The Muckaty dump plan is flawed and failing,” said Beyond Nuclear Initiative convenor Natalie Wasley. “The Federal Court case offers a chance to review this poorly conceived plan and given recent comments from former PM Bob Hawke about Australia hosting the world’s nuclear waste there is an urgent need to do things differently and better”.

There is a growing civil society call for an independent National Commission to advance responsible radioactive waste management in Australia – an approach that has been widely used internationally. “Instead of a divisive push for an increasingly discredited dump we need an open and evidence based process to identify the best way to manage some of Australia’s worst wastes,” said  Sweeney.

August 26, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News