[Greens-Media] ‘Save Malaysia - Stop Lynas’ media conference TODAY

[Torre, Giovanni (Sen S. Ludlam)]

‘Save Malaysia - Stop Lynas’ media conference TODAY:
Delegation from Malaysia speak out on Australian company’s controversial Malaysia project

A Save Malaysia - Stop Lynas delegation from Malaysia will speak out today at the Senate Courtyard on the controversial rare earth processing plant of Australian company Lynas at 1.30pm.

The proposed plant has been the subject of mass protests and legal action in Malaysia.  The Australian Greens support Save Malaysia - Stop Lynas in their efforts.

Senate Courtyard
1.30pm TODAY

Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon said “Thousands of Malaysians have taken a loud stance against the Lynas rare earth refinery and the radioactive legacy the plant would dump on local communities”.

“The refinery would create 320,000 tonnes of dry soil waste every year but Lynas has skimped on a full environmental impact assessment and local consultation has been sketchy at the best.  There is no social licence for the controversial processing plant to go ahead.”

“The Australian Greens are adding our voice to Stop Lynas campaign.  When Australian mining companies abuse local communities and the environment in other countries we have a responsibility to speak out.”

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said "In September Lynas submitted an application to ARPANSA to import radioactive waste from Malaysia.  The company intends to ship radioactive ores through Fremantle Port to export them to their plant in Malaysia, and are now pushing for the right to import the wastes of those ores back onto Australian soil.  I know the people of Fremantle won't stand for it”.

"Malaysia’s nuclear regulator Atomic Energy Licensing Board said Lynas was legally obliged to remove radioactive waste from its advanced materials plant and return the residue to Australia - under the conditions of the temporary operating licence.  This defies Australian Government policy, and indeed Western Australian law, which asserts that Australia does not accept or import radioactive waste from other countries.  The company knows it will not get permission to dump the waste in Australia and should come clean about its real intentions.  The people of Malaysia have a right to know."

Senator Ludlam will also comment on the Federal Government’s ongoing Muckaty nuclear waste dump debacle.


Media contact:  Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302