Northern Territory’s fight against nuclear waste dump
Support for statehood is mounting, as residents become outraged at the way they say the NT’s constitutional weakness has enabled the Government to force a nuclear waste dump on central Australia….…
Only one chance to state our case, Northern Territory News, LARINE STATHAM | March 5th, 2011 THE TERRITORY is mounting a second bid for statehood even as the Australian Greens seek an important easing of federal control – specifically, the scrapping of legislative powers enabling a single federal minister to overturn laws passed by the territories. Continue reading
Rain poses radioactive spill threat from Ranger uranium mine
ERA was struggling to manage water at Ranger Mine and should- n’t be given approval for an expansion….It’s alarming that the Ranger uranium mine is operating so close to the margin, near the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park, putting the livelihood of community and business at risk,”
Mine overflow risk DAVID WOOD ntnews.com.au March 7th, 2011 THE VOLUME of water at Ranger uranium mine’s tailings dam could exceed the approved level if heavy rain continues, an environment group has said. Continue reading
Mirrar Aboriginals tell European Parliamentarians of Ranger uranium mine dangers
Speaking through an interpreter, Mirarr elder Annie Ngalmirama said the people’s key concerns included mine waste and water management, contamination threats and the long-term social and cultural impacts of mining.
Kakadu elders reveal Ranger mine fears, Sydney Morning Herald, Tony BartlettFebruary 25, 2011 – Traditional landowners from Kakadu have flown to the Gold Coast to brief a delegation from the European Parliament on their concerns about the operation of Rio Tinto’s Ranger uranium mine.Ranger has operated on land owned by the Mirarr clan at the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park for more than 30 years. Continue reading
Aboriginal traditional owners challenge Australian government to meet them over nuclear waste dump issue
“Come Out and Camp with Us” Traditional Owners Challenge Government to Meet Over Muckaty Waste Dump, 26 Feb 2011, Muckaty Traditional Owners met outside the offices of the Northern Land Council in Tennant Creek today to protest the passing of the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill through the House of Representatives.
The protest coincided with a federal court mediation in Melbourne about the contested Muckaty site nomination, attended by Traditional Owner Mark Lane Jangala. The Traditional Owners resolved to continue fighting the proposed waste dump and reiterated calls for politicians and the NLC to come to Tennant Creek and meet with the community. Continue reading
Nuclear waste dump imposed on Northern Territory
“Territorians have a right to have the laws passed
by their Parliament respected in the same ways that states’ laws are respected.”
Nuclear dump laws ‘show need for NT statehood’, – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Jane Bardon Feb 24, 2011 The imminent passage of national nuclear waste dump legislation is another argument for the Northern Territory to become a state, the Territory’s Statehood Committee says. Continue reading
Northern Territory Government and protestors united against Federal nuke waste dump Bill
the Bill showed no respect for NT legislation designed to ban nuclear waste dumps in the Territory…..”The Muckaty site didn’t even make the short-list when environmental and scientific criteria were used to inform a preliminary site assessment study in the 1990s, now they want to build a dump there.”
Protesters ramp up campaign against nuke dump | News | NT News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, 24 Feb 2011, TERRITORY anti-nuclear waste dump protesters have started a small but concerted campaign against new legislation expected to be presented to the Federal Senate next week.The House of Representatives passed the Bill on Tuesday with Muckaty Station about 120km north of Tennant Creek the site most likely to be used for the dump. Continue reading
Australian Country Liberal MP shows integrity on nuclear waste issue
Ms Griggs has come out against the dump.
Griggs defiant on N-waste NT News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia . 24 Feb 2011, TERRITORIANS are probably evenly divided about the Federal Government’s decision to build a nuclear waste dump near Tennant Creek.Some argue that Australia has an obligation to store its nuclear waste properly and the NT Outback is as good a place as any…….
But on one issue there is more agreement – that Canberra should not have the right to impose the dump on Territorians. Continue reading
Federal Country Liberal MP stands up for Northern Territory against nuclear waste dump
Griggs fights nuclear dump, NT News, NIGEL ADLAM | February 22nd, 2011 A TERRITORY federal MP is to vote against forcing the NT to house a nuclear waste dump. Member for Solomon Natasha Griggs has said she will vote against a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory Continue reading
Northern Territory Intervention aboriginal land grab is discriminatory
Intervention still discriminatory: Gooda, Sydney Morning Herald, Julian DrapeFebruary 10, 2011 – Social justice commissioner Mick Gooda has attacked federal Labor over its redesign of the Northern Territory intervention, arguing key elements remain racially discriminatory. Continue reading
Aboriginals want a GENUINE study into Ranger uranium mine and water
ERA rejects ‘poison’ mine water worry – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Anna Henderson Feb 9, 2011 A senior traditional owner in Kakadu National Park is calling on the Australian government to reject plans to expand the Ranger uranium mine. Continue reading
Time for ERA to shut down Ranger uranium mine
“It is time for ERA to end its increasingly ill-considered and desperate expansion plans and start a measured, costed and comprehensive clean up and exit from Ranger. Twelve weeks is a start, but the unique Kakadu environment needs more than a three month reprieve.”
Dave Sweeney 29 Jan 2011, The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed today’s confirmation of the suspension of mineral processing operations at Energy Resources of Australia’s troubled Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu. Ranger continues to be dogged by operational problems, including unresolved seepage from the tailings dam and the planned twelve week suspension seeks to reduce pressure on the under-performing tailings dam. Continue reading
Wet weather, low grade ore, means low output for Ranger uranium mine
“We had lower grade because of access to the pit and because of the longer wet season and geological issues,”….”When we had access to the bottom of the pit, it, the grade level, was not as we were expecting,
Shortfall the pits NT News NICK CALACOURAS | January 19th, 2011 ENERGY Resources Australia was forced to buy more than 600 tonnes of uranium to meet commitments after the Ranger mine produced a shortfall of ore. Continue reading
28% drop in REA’s Ranger uranium output
Energy Resources Australia uranium output down 28% – MarketWatch, By David Fickling, SYDNEY 13 jan 2011, — Uranium oxide produced from Energy Resources of Australia Ltd.’s (ERA.AU) Ranger mine fell 28% on the year in 2010, dropping from 5,250 metric tons in 2009 to 3,793 tons, the company said Thursday.
Danger of expanding Ranger uranium mine
Senator Scott Ludlam says Energy Resources Australia has a poor track record. “This isn’t an isolated incident. Right from the beginning this mine has been plagued with difficulties with accidents, spills and near misses,” he said.
Ranger uranium scare ‘not isolated’ ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 7 Jan 2011, The Greens say a uranium scare in Kakadu National Park is evidence mining there should not be allowed to expand. Continue reading
Success in projects that are run by Aboriginals
Report found projects run by the Central Land Council showed a better chance of creating ongoing community benefits.
Projects under Aboriginal control reap rewards, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Tom Nightingale Dec 22, 2010 An Australian National University report argues Indigenous people are less likely to benefit from current government policies that do not empower Aboriginal groups. Continue reading
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