“People at each of the targeted sites clearly stated opposition to the Howard government’s proposal, and have fought consistently over the last two and a half years to increase national awareness and opposition to the plan. It is a big relief that their land and communities are now spared the burden of hundreds or thousands of years of radioactive waste storage”, stated Natalie Wasley, BNI campaigner in Alice Springs.

Though the proposed NT sites are now off the drawing board, Wasley indicated that BNI will continue to carefully monitor radioactive waste management, stating “the Beyond Nuclear campaign will be working closely with Federal Labor to ensure that the scientific inquiry and consultation processes for radioactive waste management are rigorous, accountable and community focused”.

Wasley added that any process “should include the option of returning the spent fuel waste to Lucas Heights when it returns from overseas.”

“The waste produced at the OPAL nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights will remain at the facility for a minimum of 10-20 years before it is sent overseas for reprocessing. There is no need to build another dump site for returning waste as well as managing the waste at this facility. Lucas Heights is where the nuclear scientists trained to deal with these materials are situated”.

Ms Wasley also indicated that transport is an important factor in radioactive waste management decisions.

“The numerous freight and transport accidents on Territory and interstate roads over the last couple of years highlight the risk of trucking highly radioactive materials across the country, through hundreds of communities, to remote locations”.

“ALEC-BNI will continue to work with and support communities along potential waste transport routes and harbours to ensure that their opinions and concerns are fully acknowledged and acted upon by the Federal Government in any radioactive waste management process that is undertaken.”

“We look forward to the repeal of the draconian Radioactive Waste Management legislation and to working with the incoming Government on this important national issue. People across the Territory and across Australia have clearly indicated that they will not allow their elected Government to dump on democracy when it comes to radioactive waste”.

“BNI calls upon the Federal Government to undertake an open public inquiry to assess all aspects of waste production and management in Australia,” Wasley concluded.

Contact: Natalie Wasley 0429 900 774