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Press Release

Scullion and Tollner a disgrace on nuclear dump

13 October 2005

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Senator Scullion says he has crossed the floor to vote against the dump in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

"I already crossed the floor to support a motion that says the Commonwealth shouldn't do this," he said.

"Now, any motion of that type, I will also cross the floor to support or if there's any legislation that comes before the Senate that can prevent the Commonwealth from providing this in the Northern Territory I'll vote against it".
(ABC NT Local News 19 August 2005)

The Central Land Council says that the introduction of two pieces of legislation into Parliament today to allow a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory shows an outrageous disregard for the views of Territorians.

CLC director David Ross said some Arrernte people had already clearly and loudly said 'no' to the proposal to have a nuclear dump site in Central Australia and the Central Land Council was organising further meetings with all traditional owners of the two proposed sites to ensure that they were aware of the issue and could give their views.

It is a statutory function of the CLC to seek the views of Aboriginal people about developments on country to which they are affiliated.

"The Government knew we were holding meetings next week with Arrernte traditional owners of the country which may be affected and it has accepted an invitation to those meetings to put its case.

However, this action completely obliterates any pretence that these traditional owners' views will make a difference to the outcome, although the Government formally asked us to consult people," Mr Ross said.

"Senator Scullion has conveniently forgotten his former commitment to prevent the dump.

"It's not too late Senator Scullion. You can still redeem your integrity by crossing the floor to represent your constituents," he said.

"To add insult to injury, David Tollner and Nigel Scullion's joint press release on the issue is just a mumbo jumbo of outright lies.

"To pretend that Australians will be denied life-saving radiopharmaceuticals if the dump is stopped is alarmist rubbish and Territorians deserve better from their elected representative.

"At the very least, one would expect our elected representatives to reflect the views of their constituents and to tell the truth. They do neither," Mr Ross said.

contact: Jane Hodson 0417 877 579 08 8951 6217