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No nuclear waste dump at Muckaty
This petition was published by Beyond Nuclear Initiative on Feb 05, 2012
To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled:
Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson is advancing plans for a national radioactive waste dump on Aboriginal land at Muckaty near Tennant Creek (NT). The dump would house a range of radioactive waste including spent nuclear fuel rods and decommissioned reactor parts.
Minister Ferguson's claim that the dump is needed for continuation of nuclear medicine in Australia is strongly contested by a range of medical professionals.
The nomination of the Muckaty site was made in 2007 under legislation passed by the former Howard government. Minister Ferguson's proposed new dump law, the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010, repeals the Howard era legislation but keeps some of its worst aspects, including overriding State and Territory laws and protections and preserving the contested Muckaty nomination.
The Muckaty nomination is being challenged by Traditional Owners in the Federal Court. A fair, transparent and open process would allow key issues of ownership, consultation and consent that are currently before the Court to be determined before there is any further government action on the NT dump proposal.
There is little benefit for Traditional Owners in hosting a radioactive waste facility. There is high environmental risk and very few job opportunities. The compensation being offered is likely to be in the form of funding for roads, housing and education scholarships - things other Australians expect and receive as standard citizenship entitlements.
The Muckaty dump plan lacks scientific and procedural credibility and community consent. It is time for a responsible and effective approach to be initiated.
Your petitioners ask that the Senate:
1- Not support the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 in its current form
2- Remove all Northern Territory sites nominated under the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act, including Muckaty, from consideration for a national radioactive waste management facility.
3- Urgently initiate a comprehensive and independent public inquiry into radioactive waste production and the full range of radioactive waste management options in Australia.
Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson is advancing plans for a national radioactive waste dump on Aboriginal land at Muckaty near Tennant Creek (NT). The dump would house a range of radioactive waste including spent nuclear fuel rods and decommissioned reactor parts.
Minister Ferguson's claim that the dump is needed for continuation of nuclear medicine in Australia is strongly contested by a range of medical professionals.
The nomination of the Muckaty site was made in 2007 under legislation passed by the former Howard government. Minister Ferguson's proposed new dump law, the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010, repeals the Howard era legislation but keeps some of its worst aspects, including overriding State and Territory laws and protections and preserving the contested Muckaty nomination.
The Muckaty nomination is being challenged by Traditional Owners in the Federal Court. A fair, transparent and open process would allow key issues of ownership, consultation and consent that are currently before the Court to be determined before there is any further government action on the NT dump proposal.
There is little benefit for Traditional Owners in hosting a radioactive waste facility. There is high environmental risk and very few job opportunities. The compensation being offered is likely to be in the form of funding for roads, housing and education scholarships - things other Australians expect and receive as standard citizenship entitlements.
The Muckaty dump plan lacks scientific and procedural credibility and community consent. It is time for a responsible and effective approach to be initiated.
Your petitioners ask that the Senate:
1- Not support the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 in its current form
2- Remove all Northern Territory sites nominated under the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act, including Muckaty, from consideration for a national radioactive waste management facility.
3- Urgently initiate a comprehensive and independent public inquiry into radioactive waste production and the full range of radioactive waste management options in Australia.
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