PM's Nuclear Waste Push Biffs Democracy Out Window

PM's nuclear waste dump push throws science and democracy out the window

PM Howard is being called upon stop trying to impose a nuclear waste dump on an indigenous community in the NT and scrap the flawed and undemocratic process the Federal Government have using to push their nuclear waste dump proposal.

 "John Howard is trying to mislead people into thinking that the nuclear waste dump is being created largely for storage of radioactive waste from medical uses in order to cover up the fact that he has thrown scientific and democratic process out the window" said Friends of the Earth Nuclear Free Ways spokesperson Michaela Stubbs.

In 2005 he announced three proposed sites for a nuclear waste dump none of which were identified as suitable during a rigorous site selection process in the early 90's.  Since then he has systematically removed people's rights to consultation and say over what is an appropriate development or not.  Now he is trying to convince an aboriginal community to accept a nuclear waste dump in return for "compensation" after starving them from access to basic infrastructure and access to health, education and employment services over many years.

This is an issue that affects not only the NT but the whole of Australia.  Nuclear waste would need to be transported halfway across the country if the Federal Government were to push ahead with their "out of sight - out of mind" proposal for dumping nuclear waste.

"This is an appalling example of a development that should be subject to the most stringent environmental laws and fair process in consultation with the whole of the Australian community, yet is being forced upon the Australian community using undemocratic legislation and a misleading PR campaign from the Federal Government" said Ms.Stubbs.

No one in the NT or any other state has agreed to having their laws and rights overridden by a gung-ho Federal Government.  They have not agreed to this environmentally and socially unsound process.

ENDS 

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