Muckaty Australia’s Nuclear Waste Dump now – but What’s Next?
The nuclear waste dump battle is far from over. The Rudd government got elected partly on its promise to overturn Howard’s Radioactive Waste Management Act. Now, a tame Senate Inquiry has endorsed Rudd’s even more draconic National Radioactive Waste Management Bill.
Orchestrated by Australia’s fine Minister For Promoting the Nuclear Industry, Martin Ferguson, the new Bill opens the way for a radioactive waste 
dump to be imposed on Aboriginal land, against the will of its traditional owners, of the regional community, and the Northern Territory Government.
But that’s not all. Along with the Northern Territory Intervention, this Bill opens the door to further encroachment on the rights of all Australians, not only Aboriginals.
And – yesterday’s announcement of an agreement between the Australian Government and the Obam administration on nuclear technology, 
will soon be followed by a Obama’s visit to Australia. The timing of all this is remarkable. The Muckaty nuclear waste dump is supposed to take the returned Lucas Heights nuclear waste.
But what’s next for Australia – which remains a signatory to the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership?
Senate Report toes govt line on dumping nuclear waste on Northern Territory
Senator Ludlam criticised the Bill for its “heavy handed” overriding of Territory and Aboriginal heritage protection laws, and the reliance on secret documents for the nomination of Muckaty.
[The Report]t said an objects clause should be inserted as should an explanation of the minister’s “absolute discretion” on site selection.
Inquiry dumps on Northern Territory, Northern Territory News BEN LANGFORDMay 7th, 2010 THE Senate inquiry into laws which could put a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory has recommended the new legislation be passed.But the inquiry’s report was immediately criticised as “an unbalanced and closed-minded justification for a foregone conclusion” by one of the committee members. Continue reading
Australian Senate delays its report on planned nuclear waste dump on Aboriginal land
Nuclear Waste Dump: three recommended Australian Defence Force sites excluded. Why?
A bill presently before parliament rules out the possibility of using one of three previously nominated sites on Australian Defence Force land in the Northern Territory,
Plan For Nuclear Waste Dump Faces Backlash, IPS ipsnews.net, By Stephen de Tarczynski, MELBOURNE, Apr 26, 2010 – Aboriginal landowners in Australia’s far north are battling government plans to construct this country’s long-term nuclear waste storage facility on their land… Continue reading
Rudd govt’s nuclear waste dump bill more draconian than Howard’s
NT: Nuclear waste facility to be dumped on locals, Socialist Party (Australia) , 23 April 2010, Contradicting the ALP’s claims of consent, the April 2008 NT Labor Party conference unanimously passed a resolution calling on the federal government to exclude Muckaty 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.” Several federal ministers and members of government have also acknowledged the opposition and distress of locals.
This gives lie to Ferguson’s claim that he is restoring ‘fairness’ to the issue of radioactive waste management, Continue reading
Big welcome for aboriginal anti-nuclear protesors in Martin Ferguson’s electorate
at left, Dianne Stokes. by Christian Macpherson 22 April 2010. The Northcote Town Hall right in the heart of Martin Ferguson’s electorate, was packed last night, as local and Melbourne residents welcomed two courageous Aboriginals from the Tennant Creek area in the Northern Territory.
As Martin Ferguson hides in the safety of his Melbourne bunker, not having the guts to visit the local residents of the Muckaty Station area (planned nuclear waste dump) – well, Diane Stokes and Mark Chungaloo came to visit Ferguson’s area.
Melbourne heard of the strong opposition of four aboriginal clans, of local non-aboriginals, and of the Northern territory government – to the new National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – – which is intended to override all their rights, and impose a nuclear waste dump on their land.
Perhaps Martin Ferguson, Australia’s Minister For Promoting the Nuclear Industry, will have a few voters to worry about, come the federal election.
Of course, Australia’s mainstream media, ever subservient to their corporate mining links, ignored this as large and attentive crowd was informed about this issue, Dr Bill Williams spoke on the health dangers of ioinsing radiation,. Natalie Wasley and Dave Sweeney spoke on the draconian legislation planned. Alex Bhathal, Greens candidate for the electorate of Batman, received warm applause
Australian Govt likely to override Senate recommendations on radioactive waste dump
Aboriginal clans at Senate Inquiry oppose nuclear waste dump
Although the Ngapa people nominated the land for the dump, they were just one of the traditional owners, and other clans oppose the development
“It merely continues the Howard government’s process that forces a waste dump on the Northern Territory and traditional owners who don’t want it.”
Sidelined’ indigenous leaders to front nuclear inquiry , Tradingroom.com.au April 12 2010, Traditional owners who oppose a nuclear waste dump in central Australia will tell a Senate committee hearing in Darwin their wishes have been overlooked. Continue reading
Traditional Aboriginal Owners to Appear at Senate Inquiry on Australian Govt’s Nuclear Waste Dump Plan
The NRWM Bill is also strongly opposed by the NT Government, the ACTU and Unions NT and national public health, student and environment groups.
9 April 2010 Aboriginal Traditional Owners from the Muckaty Land Trust will appear at a Senate Inquiry hearing in Darwin on Monday April 12 to speak against the federal government’s new law that seeks to impose a radioactive waste dump on the NT – the National Radioactive Waste Management (NRWM) Bill. Continue reading
Legal action likely against Muckaty nuclear waste dump
that was the largest demonstration in the history of Tennant Creek,
Lawyers confident over Muckaty legal challenge, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Katrina Bolton 7 April 2010 Lawyers planning to challenge a waste dump at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek say if what they have been told is correct, they should be able to have the decision overturned. Continue reading
Muckaty’s Milwayi Traditional Owners speak out against claims for Nuclear Waste Dump
National Land Council excluding true Muckaty Owners who oppose the nuclear waste dump.30/3/2010, Yesterday the Northern Land Council (NLC) supported a large group of Muckaty Traditional Owners to visit the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney and present at today’s Senate Inquiry in Canberra. Muckaty Traditional Owner Pamela Brown, from the Milwayi group, issued the following statement in response :
If the NLC and Amy Lauder are in Canberra, I want them to tell the government people where they really stand and tell them the whole truth, that Muckaty doesn’t belong to them. Continue reading
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