[Greens-Media] Greens win 'process not postcode' argument on radioactive waste

[Hill, Felicity (Sen S. Ludlam)]

Greens win 'process not postcode' argument on radioactive waste

 

 

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has welcomed the recommendations
of a Senate Inquiry to scrap the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste
Management Act.

 

"Labor went to the last election promising to repeal this radioactive
legislation", said Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.   

 

"This Committee, with a majority of government Senators has recommended
that the election promise will be finally fulfilled in the first weeks
of the 2009 Parliament," he said. 

 

"When Howard pushed it through, Labor voted against this legislation,
saying quite rightly that it was 'extreme, arrogant, heavy-handed,
draconian, sorry, sordid, extraordinary and profoundly shameful.'  The
Australian Greens couldn't agree more."

 

"The Greens have argued that government should not impose nuclear waste
on communities without consultation and the process for the disposal of
dangerous waste must be open, accountable and transparent. Government
needs to stop obsessing about the postcode and focus on the process. It
seems that the committee has heard that message," said the Greens
Spokesperson on Nuclear Issues, Senator Scott Ludlam.

 

"The Greens have signed onto the majority government report because it
exposes the deficiencies and consequences of Howard's legislation which
has divided Aboriginal communities and sparked a vibrant grassroots
campaign, which was even backed by the Northern Territory government,"
Senator Ludlam concluded. 

 

The Inquiry of the Senate's Environment, Communications and Arts
Committee was initiated to investigate Senator Ludlam's Bill to repeal
the Howard Government's Radioactive Waste Management Act. The Act
allowed government to impose nuclear waste on communities against their
consent.

 

The Committee has recommended that radiative waste policy should be
adopted in consultation with communities, be based on environmental best
practice, and be fair and transparent.

 

The report can be downloaded at this link:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eca_ctte/completed_inquiries/inde
x.htm

 

For more information or media enquiries please call Felicity Hill on
0413 495 242

 

 

Felicity Hill 

Research and Policy Adviser,
Senator Scott Ludlam
Australian Greens Senator for WA

Perth: GPO B58, Perth W.A. 6838
p:    +61 8 9225 5799
f:    +61 8 9225 5599

Canberra: S1.36 Parliament House, Canberra ACT, 2600
p:    +61 2 6277 3467
f:    +61 2 6277 5821

e:    felicity.hill at aph.gov.au <mailto:felicity.hill at aph.gov.au>  
w:    scottludlam.org.au <http://scottludlam.org.au/>