Aboriginal land could be used as radioactive waste dump without their consent
Bill to cut traditional owners out of waste dump consultations
Annabel Stafford, Canberra
November 28, 2006
Aboriginal elders may no longer have to be consulted before their land is turned into a radioactive waste dump under controversial new legislation set to be passed by Federal Parliament in the next fortnight.
The legislation could clear the way for Aboriginal land to be nominated for use as a radioactive waste repository without the consent of traditional land owners - and without consultation of them or other indigenous people who may be affected.
It will also remove the right to a judicial review or procedural fairness for parties that oppose a particular site being nominated or approved for a dump.
The legislation comes amid speculation that the Northern Land Council is considering a radioactive waste dump at Muckaty Cattle Station in the Northern Territory.
The Labor Party, Aboriginal groups and the environment lobby savaged the Government for giving a parliamentary inquiry just a few hours to investigate the bill. The inquiry was held yesterday evening.
Labor Senator for the NT Trish Crossin said the bill was meant to "block the rights of traditional owners or others from challenging any nomination of Aboriginal land for a dump site". It would "absolve the Government from any responsibility to traditional owners of a site, to ensure that they agree with it becoming a radioactive dump site and losing access to it", she said.
Aboriginal Land Councils in the NT are split over the legislation. The Northern Land Council supports the bill, saying provisions that stop a site selection being overturned - even if the rules about consulting traditional owners have not been followed - are no different from existing arrangements for certain mining leases.
There was "no way" the legislation would allow Land Councils to nominate a waste site without getting the approval of traditional owners, NLC representatives told the parliamentary inquiry. Instead it would simply stop green groups and other parties delaying developments.
But the Central Land Council says the legislation "diminishes the rights of traditional owners, is a gross abuse of process and must be rejected in its entirety".
Nationals senator for the NT Nigel Scullion said he was "absolutely confident" the legislation would not wind back the protections of the Land Rights Act or requirements to consult traditional owners.
To read the original article from the The Age, click on:
The Age
Annabel Stafford, Canberra
November 28, 2006
Aboriginal elders may no longer have to be consulted before their land is turned into a radioactive waste dump under controversial new legislation set to be passed by Federal Parliament in the next fortnight.
The legislation could clear the way for Aboriginal land to be nominated for use as a radioactive waste repository without the consent of traditional land owners - and without consultation of them or other indigenous people who may be affected.
It will also remove the right to a judicial review or procedural fairness for parties that oppose a particular site being nominated or approved for a dump.
The legislation comes amid speculation that the Northern Land Council is considering a radioactive waste dump at Muckaty Cattle Station in the Northern Territory.
The Labor Party, Aboriginal groups and the environment lobby savaged the Government for giving a parliamentary inquiry just a few hours to investigate the bill. The inquiry was held yesterday evening.
Labor Senator for the NT Trish Crossin said the bill was meant to "block the rights of traditional owners or others from challenging any nomination of Aboriginal land for a dump site". It would "absolve the Government from any responsibility to traditional owners of a site, to ensure that they agree with it becoming a radioactive dump site and losing access to it", she said.
Aboriginal Land Councils in the NT are split over the legislation. The Northern Land Council supports the bill, saying provisions that stop a site selection being overturned - even if the rules about consulting traditional owners have not been followed - are no different from existing arrangements for certain mining leases.
There was "no way" the legislation would allow Land Councils to nominate a waste site without getting the approval of traditional owners, NLC representatives told the parliamentary inquiry. Instead it would simply stop green groups and other parties delaying developments.
But the Central Land Council says the legislation "diminishes the rights of traditional owners, is a gross abuse of process and must be rejected in its entirety".
Nationals senator for the NT Nigel Scullion said he was "absolutely confident" the legislation would not wind back the protections of the Land Rights Act or requirements to consult traditional owners.
To read the original article from the The Age, click on:
The Age
posted by Pax Christi @ Thursday, November 30, 2006
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