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Minister slammed over lack of consultation on dump site
Monday, 24 August 2009
10:00:05 AM
By Tara Ravens
NORTHERN TERRITORY, August 24, 2009: Environmentalists are outraged federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson will not consult before deciding on the location of a nuclear waste dump site and have accused him of seeking a "short-term political fix" to the issue.
A letter from about 60 traditional owners of Aboriginal land at Muckaty Station, 120km north of Tennant Creek, was tabled in federal parliament earlier this week.
The land was controversially nominated as a possible site for a waste dump by the Northern Land Council last year.
But the letter, which calls for a meeting with Mr Ferguson, details widespread opposition to a waste facility.
Mr Ferguson's office on Thursday told the ABC there would be no consultation with concerned Northern Territory traditional owners until a final decision was made on where to build a nuclear waste facility.
"Telling people your plans is not consultation," said Beyond Nuclear Initiative spokesperson Natalie Wasley.
"People have been active, assertive and consistent in trying to engage with this process for many years."
The Howard government named the NT as the site for Australia's next repository for low-level nuclear waste in 2005 and passed legislation that allowed it to be forced on the region .
Harts Range, Fishers Ridge, Muckaty Station and Mount Everard were short-listed as possible sites.
In April this year, Mr Ferguson promised the Rudd government would stand by an election commitment to scrap the legislation but he said it would not be giving up the search for a suitable site somewhere in Australia.
"(My) department has done a scientific assessment of a range of potential sites," he said at the time, adding that he had not consulted with any communities about a dump site because he was awaiting the report's findings.
Ms Wasley on Friday said the government had promised "an open, transparent and credible process" but the stance adopted by Mr Ferguson's office had "sidelined community involvement".
"The ALP has previously committed to a new process that was inclusive and accountable," she said.
"Martin Ferguson is replicating the mistakes of the Howard government in his approach to radioactive waste management.
"He is looking for a short-term political fix to a long-term environmental problem." - AAP
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