Groups join in desert to take up nuclear free fight
Marie Bout
"Anti-nuclear activists from around Australia joined with Indigenous people today in Alice Springs to protest against Federal Government plans for increased uranium mining and exports and the proposed federal radioactive waste dump in the Northern Territory.
The groups launched the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) following a weekend meeting on Werre Therre land, next to the proposed Mount Everard nuclear waste site, 40km north west of Alice Springs. The Alliance has evolved from the Alliance against Uranium, a network of concerned people and groups that formed in 1997.
The meeting comprised traditional owners and community members of lands proposed for urniaum mining and the federal waste dump, environmental, public health and community groups from each state.
“There will be no dump and uranium mining within the Northern Territory. The government has to sit up and listen because are going to take this through to the election until we get this stopped,” said Mitch, from the Engawala community, near the proposed Harts Range radioactive waste facility.
In 2004 the NT Parliament banned the transport, storage and disposal of nuclear waste. However, 2005 Federal laws overrode the NT ban and paved the way for the storage of federally produced nuclear waste. The legislation prohibits challenges from the Northern Territory Government, Aboriginal land councils or any other affected groups.
Three sites have been assessed for the federal waste dump; Fisher's Ridge, 42km south of Katherine, Harts Range, 160km north-east of Alice Springs and Mount Everard 40km to the north-west. Muckaty Station, 120km north of Tennant Creek has also been nominated for assessment. If the Muckaty nomination is accepted by Federal Science minister Julie Bishop, a short scientific assessment will be done, with the preferred site of the four then chosen,
“Any destruction of sacred sites we're gunna stop you fellers from doing it, we’re gunna set up camps out there, we want support,” said prominent Indigenous activist Kevin Buzzacott, from the Arrabunna people of South Australia.
Kath Martin, a traditional owner for the Mt Everard region, was concerned the radioactive waste would contaminate underground water. “This is not only for us but for the whole damn country, if those waters are contaminated, what then?”
Dr Tilman Ruff, President of the Medical Association for Prevention of War, told local people there was no safe level of radiation exposure. “This is the most poisonous substance we know . . . that can be used to make the worst weapons of terror we know.”
He said radioactive matter needed to be secured."
In a group statement, the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance described current Federal interventions in the NT to address child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities as a “Trojan Horse”. The Alliance said the intervention was an attempt to grab land for mining interests and nuclear waste management.
“For 10 years, this Alliance has worked to turn back the toxic nuclear tide,” said Natalie Wasley from the Arid Lands Environment Centre Beyond Nuclear initiative. “Now there is a new name, a new structure, a new enthusiasm and a new commitment to continue and expand our efforts for a nuclear free Australia.”
