Australian Aboriginals: 'NO' to radioactive dump at Muckaty

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)




20 MARCH 2010: AUSTRALIA:

MUCKATY STATION NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP
WGAR website: http://wgar.info/

Contents:

- Background

- Audio from Public meeting

- Senate Submissions

- Media Releases

- Senate Debates

- Analysis and/or Opinion

- News



- Background



Beyond Nuclear Initiative's weblog:

http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/

"This site is a snapshot of current nuclear free campaigns

in Australia, particularly focusing on the proposal for a

federal radioactive waste dump in the Northern Territory."



WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)

http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-northern-territory-2-mar-10



- Audio from Public meeting



Beyond Nuclear Initiative's weblog: New audio uploaded

http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/new-audio-uploaded/


6 Mar 10: "Audio from the public meeting in Tennant Creek

(held Wednesday March 3) about the Muckaty radioactive

waste dump is now uploaded on the audio page- click here"

[Includes audio of:

* Bunny Napurula-Muckaty Traditional Owner,

* Doris Nakamarra Kelly-Muckaty Traditional Owner,

* Minister Gerry McCarthy-MLA Barkly (NT Government),

* Senator Scott Ludlam,

* Richard Downs-Alyawarr Walk Off Spokesperson,

* Barbara Shaw-Intervention Rollback Action Group,

* Dianne Nampin Stokes-Muckaty Traditional Owner]



- Senate Submissions



Parliament of Australia: Senate:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee:

National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010

Submissions received by the Committee

http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/Committee/legcon_ctte/radioactivewaste/submissions.htm



- Media Releases



Greens MPs:

Government rediscovers secret report on Muckaty waste dump

http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/government-rediscovers-secret-report-muckaty-waste-dump


15 Mar 10: "The Federal Government has admitted it has

possession of a secret anthropological report which

provides the foundation and sole basis for the nomination

of Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek, as the most likely

site for a radioactive waste dump."



Greens MPs:

D-Day for Ferguson to produce Muckaty waste dump documents

http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/d-day-ferguson-produce-muckaty-waste-dump-documents

11 Mar 10: "The Senate has ordered the Federal Government

to finally release documents relating to the secret

contract which paved the way for a radioactive waste dump

to be built at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek."



Statement from the Alyawarr walk-off camp

re NLC support for a Nuclear Waste Dump at Muckaty

http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/media

4 Mar 10: "To Kim Hill, Chairman of the NLC: In your recent

press statements, you say consultation has been carried out

with traditional leaders of Muckaty station who approve of

a nuclear waste dump site to go ahead. Yet there are other

Aboriginal leaders, elders and family’s voices who are

against the proposal not being heard. They have been

completely shut out of any consultation."



Northern Land Council:

Ngapa traditional owner Amy Lauder welcomes new legislation

http://www.nlc.org.au/html/files/Ngapa%20traditional%20owner%20Amy%20Lauder%20welcomes%20new%20legislation.pdf

3 Mar 10: "Muckaty Station traditional owner Amy Lauder has

welcomed last week’s tabling of the National Radioactive

Waste Management Bill in Federal Parliament. ... Ngapa

Elder Ms Lauder today met with Federal Resources Minister

Martin Ferguson in Darwin, re-iterating her wish that Ngapa

land at Muckaty Station be considered as a potential site

for a nuclear waste repository."



Northern Land Council:

NLC welcome Radioactive Waste Management law

http://www.nlc.org.au/html/files/NLC%20welcomes%20Radioactive%20Waste%20Management%20Law%20230210.pdf

23 Feb 10: "The Northern Land Council (NLC) welcomes

Minister Ferguson's announcement today that the National

Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 will be tabled in

Federal Parliament later this week. The NLC also welcomes

the Minister's announcement that the Ngapa nomination of

land at Muckaty Station will be preserved and the existing

site nomination deed honoured."



- Senate Debates



OpenAustralia.org: Muckaty Station: 15 Mar 2010: Senate debates

http://www.openaustralia.org/senate/?id=2010-03-15.29.1

15 Mar 10: "This is not some obscure document; this is the

foundation upon which the entire case of the Muckaty

nomination rests. It is an anthropological study conducted

on behalf of the Northern Land Council that identifies a

number of people as the only ones who are able to comment

in regard to the Muckaty lands, where the Commonwealth

still proposes to dump radioactive waste. We are not able

to review those ideas or any of the material that is

contained there because it has never been made public."

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens)



- Analysis and/or Opinion



NT News: Political cowardice

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/03/17/132511_ntnews.html

17 Mar 10: "THE decision by the Senate to hold hearings

into the nuclear waste dump in Canberra and Darwin but not

Tennant Creek is an act of political cowardice. Muckaty

Station, 120km north of the Outback town, may - or may not

be - as good a place as any to build the depository. But

the people who live in Tennant and nearby surely have a

right to have their say."



Tennant & District Times: Time to make a stand

http://tennantcreek.yourguide.com.au/news/opinion/letters/general/time-to-make-a-stand/1774773.aspx?storypage=0

12 Mar 10: "Last week Richard Downs, spokesperson for the

Alyawarr Walk Off Camp, wrote to the Northern Land Council

Chairman, Kim Hill, regarding the consultation process

which eventuated in the nomination of Muckaty Station as

the site for a nuclear dump. This is what he wrote: ... "



ABC Darwin: What will be stored at Muckaty?

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/03/10/2842065.htm?site=darwin

10 Mar 10: "We've heard that medical waste will be stored

at an Australian radioactive waste dump, either at Muckaty

station or wherever else a site is chosen. But spent

nuclear fuel rods, which are of a higher level of

radioactivity, will also be stored in any waste dump that's

established."



Chris White Online: Oppose nuclear dump

http://chriswhiteonline.org/2010/03/oppose-nuclear-dump

8 Mar 10: "Minister Ferguson is going ahead despite the

nomination of the Muckaty site is highly contested. The

Senate is now receiving submissions. It is essential that

the Senate Committee pay due respects to the Traditional

Owners by travelling to Tennant Creek to take evidence from

them directly. The nomination of the Muckaty site by the

Northern Land Council was highly controversial and is

strongly contested by many Traditional Owners."



anthropologyworks: A heresy is occurring in Australia

http://anthropologyworks.com/?p=1671

6 Mar 10: "Muckaty station sits above an ancient aquifer

which is used by both the aborigines for drinking water and

white station owners to water their cattle. ... Long-lived

carcinogenic isotopes will inevitably leak into underground

water systems, bio-concentrate in food chains and over

generations induce cancer, genetic disease and congenital

deformities in humans, animals and plants. A dismal prospect

indeed for Australia’s future." Helen Caldicott



NT News Editorial: Shafted over nuke dump

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/03/05/129661_ntnews.html

5 Mar 10: "TRADITIONAL owners have finally woken up to the

fact that they are being shafted by the Federal Government

over the nuclear waste dump."



- News



ABC: Waste dump debate a 'health issue'

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/18/2849539.htm?site=indigenous&topic=latest


18 Mar 10: "The Senate committee in charge of the inquiry

into the Federal Government's proposed nuclear waste dump

legislation is expected to decide today whether to visit

Tennant Creek. The inquiry has received more than 200

submissions."



Trading Room:

NT Labor MP opposes Muckaty station for nuclear dump

http://www.tradingroom.com.au/apps/view_breaking_news_article.ac?page=/data/news_research/published/2010/3/77/catf_100318_183200_2676.html

18 Mar 10: "A Northern Territory Labor MP has broken ranks

to oppose the use of the NT's Muckaty Station to store

nuclear waste. Damian Hale, the Labor member for Solomon,

says he does not want the nuclear waste dump to be located

at Muckaty Station, 120km north of Tennant Creek."



ABC Rural: Senate inquiry should go to Tennant Creek: pastoralist

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/nt/content/201003/s2847533.htm

16 Mar 10: "The inquiry will host hearings in Darwin and

Canberra, but not Tennant Creek which is only 120

kilometres south of Muckaty Station, currently the only

site on the table for a waste dump."



ABC: Release study on Muckaty: Greens

http://www.in.com/news/current-affairs/fullstory-release-study-on-muckaty-greens-13179993-22b8af2723247781d0143330529fa038f4992bb0-1.html

16 Mar 10: "The Greens say they are puzzled as to why the

Federal Government tried to claim it had not seen an

anthropological study for a region that is the likely site

for a proposed national nuclear waste dump."



ABC: Senators urged to visit planned waste dump site

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/15/2845785.htm?section=justin


15 Mar 10: "The Greens say a Senate inquiry into the

Federal Government's proposed radioactive waste management

legislation will not visit the site of the proposed dump."



NT News: Long trek for locals to be at dump talks

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/03/15/131811_ntnews.html

15 Mar 10: "TENNANT Creek locals and traditional owners

will have to travel to Darwin or Canberra if they want to

appear at the Senate Inquiry into new laws for a

radioactive waste dump."



new media: tony serve blogs: Australian Greens blast Labor

over no waste dump hearing in Central Australia

http://tonyserve.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/australian-greens-blast-labor-over-no-waste-dump-hearing-in-central-australia


14 Mar 10: "Greens blast Labor over no waste dump hearing

in Central Australia. The Federal Government is trying to

silence the Tennant Creek community with its decision not

to bring a radioactive waste dump inquiry to Central

Australia, the Australian Greens say."



ABC: Earthquake fears over nuclear dump site

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/12/2843846.htm

12 Mar 10: "Reports into the suitability of the site chosen

by the Federal Government for a nuclear waste dump say more

scientific investigation is needed into the threat of

earthquakes around the Tennant Creek region. A Greens

Senate motion has forced the Federal Government to release

eight reports and two reviews into the possible sites for a

nuclear waste dump."



Weekly Times Now: Nuclear waste dump likely

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2010/03/09/165345_national-news.html

9 Mar 10: "THE Northern Territory is set to house a

national radioactive waste dump, after the federal

coalition resolved to support government legislation."



ABC: Coalition to support nuclear waste dump

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/09/2840493.htm?section=justin

9 Mar 10: "The Federal Opposition has confirmed it will

support the Government's plan for a nuclear waste dump in

the Northern Territory. Muckaty Station, about 100

kilometres north of Tennant Creek, is the only site under

consideration for the proposed national radioactive waste

facility."



SBS World News Australia: Nuclear waste dump plan for NT

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1210287/Nuclear-waste-dump-plan-for-NT

9 Mar 10: "The Northern Territory is set to house a

national radioactive waste dump, after the federal

coalition resolved to support government legislation.

Opposition energy spokesman Nick Minchin said the coalition

had long recognised the need for a central repository, but

when in government, had its efforts frustrated by state

Labor governments."



Solidarity: Radioactive racism: Labor’s NT waste dump

http://www.solidarity.net.au/22/radioactive-racism-labors-nt-waste-dump

Mar 10: "On Wednesday March 3, 150 people packed a

community hall in Tennant Creek for a protest meeting

against the imposition of a nuclear waste dump on the

Muckaty Aboriginal Land Trust, 100 kilometres north of the

town. There was a strong mood of defiance. Local people

feel deeply betrayed by the Rudd government." Paddy Gibson



Tennant & District Times:

Federal minister snubs nuke dump resistance

http://tennantcreek.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/federal-minister-snubs-nuke-dump-resistance-/1768256.aspx

5 Mar 10: "“YOU know I’m not going to Tennant Creek,”

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson snorted through

the airwaves. ... "



NT News: Tennant Creek locals gather to talk nuclear waste

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/03/05/129491_ntnews.html

5 Mar 10: "SPEAKERS travelled thousands of kilometres to

address residents of the Territory town at the centre of

the national nuclear waste dump debate this week. The

Tennant Creek public meeting at the CWA Hall was attended

by more than 150 people on Wednesday night."



ABC: Snowdon confirms pro-nuclear dump vote

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/05/2837357.htm


5 Mar 10: "The federal Labor Member for Lingiari, Warren

Snowdon, says he will vote for new legislation which will

override the Northern Territory's power to block a nuclear

waste dump."



ABC Alice Springs: 'Dismayed': nuclear dump concerns raised

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/04/2836195.htm?site=alicesprings


4 Mar 10: "More than 100 people have attended a public

meeting in Tennant Creek about a proposed nuclear waste

dump near the Northern Territory town."



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