[Greens-Media] FW: Pre-comment on OPAL

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

In advance of the opening of the new OPAL nuclear reactor today, Greens
Climate Change and Energy Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said:

> "Amid all the hoopla around the opening of OPAL, spare a thought for
> the indigenous Australians whose rights have been once again trampled
> so the reactor could be built.
> 
> "The Howard Government has passed laws which allow them to nominate
> and approve a site for a nuclear waste dump, taking the waste from
> this reactor, without the consent of the traditional owners of the
> land. The traditional owners will not even have the right to appeal
> such a decision and they still do not know on whose land in the
> Northern Territory the Howard Government intends to dump this deadly
> waste.
> 
> "And if Mr Howard uses the opening of this reactor to promote nuclear
> power for Australia, he must tell us if he would dump the lethal waste
> from those reactors on indigenous Australians as well.
> 
> "Finally, while all the focus is on the new reactor today, tomorrow
> Treasurer Costello should come clean on how much it will cost to
> decommission the old Lucas Heights reactor, a figure he has been so
> far unable to name.
> 
> "If the Prime Minister wants a full debate on nuclear he should be
> prepared to tell Australians what they will have to pay to
> decommission the reactors of his dreams."
> 
Senator Milne is available for comment. Please contact Tim Hollo on 0437
587 562

> Tim Hollo
> Media and Communications Adviser
> Senator Christine Milne
> Phone: + 61 3 6224 8899 (Hobart)
> Phone: + 61 2 6277 3063 (Canberra)
> Mobile: + 61 437 587 562
> Email: tim.hollo at aph.gov.au
> Skype: timhollo
> Website: www.christinemilne.org.au
>