Gillard Government to Dump Nuclear Waste in the Northern Territory
Traditional owners and environmental groups have vowed to
continue fighting the federal government's plan to store
radioactive waste at Muckaty Station in
the Northern Territory.
The Senate passed legislation
yesterday that paves the way for
medical, research and industrial
waste to be stored at the site near
Tennant Creek for hundreds of
years.
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says the bill ensures
Australia meets its international obligations to properly manage its
nuclear waste in a purpose-built
dump.
"This waste is currently held at
over 100 temporary sites at Australian universities, hospitals,
offices and laboratories," Mr Ferguson said in a statement.
One of the main sites is Lucas
Heights in Sydney.
The Australian Greens say that is
where it should stay until an
independent commission can
determine where to store it in the
long term.
The Greens secured support
yesterday for a change to the
legislation that bans the storage of
international waste at Muckaty.
The coalition also successfully
moved an amendment that requires states and territories to pay a
fee if they wish to store waste at
the dump.
AAP Canberra Times 14 March 2012 p9
contact: Bruce A. Peterson
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Last modified: Thu 15 Mar 2012