Newsletter date: 16 March 2011
Contents:
* Federal Court legal challenge over Muckaty nuclear waste dump resumes in August
* More on the blockade by Aboriginal women of Lake Tyers
* More on 'racist' Alice Springs TV advertisement
* Other Muckaty nuclear waste dump articles
* Background to Muckaty Station nuclear waste dump
* Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
FEDERAL COURT LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP RESUMES IN AUGUST:
- News
ABC: Legal battle over nuclear dump to resume in August
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/01/3152127.htm
1 Mar 11: "A legal battle over the nominated site for Australia's first nuclear waste facility looks set to continue for months. Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek is the only site nominated by the Federal Government for Australia's first nuclear waste dump. A traditional owner is trying to challenge the nomination, arguing that not all of the relevant people were consulted. A mediation session on Friday failed to resolve the case and the Federal Court has listed it for further mediation in August."
9 News: NT landowners fight radioactive dump
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8218225/nt-landowners-fight-radioact...
1 Mar 11: "Aboriginal landowners say they will continue their fight to stop Australia's first radioactive waste dump being set up on their land. They've again implored Resources Minister Martin Ferguson to visit Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, who has so far turned down repeated invitations. ... Meanwhile, his [Mark Lane Jangala] legal challenge in the Federal Court - launched on behalf of himself and other senior elders - is due to return in August."
MORE ON THE BLOCKADE BY ABORIGINAL WOMEN OF LAKE TYERS:
See: WGAR News: Aboriginal women of Lake Tyers are staging a blockade
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2011/03/12/wgar-news-aboriginal-women-of-lak...
- News
Bairnsdale Advertiser: ‘We’re being dictated to’
http://www.eastvicmedia.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id...
11 Mar 11: "On Tuesday, a group of female residents of Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust blockaded the road to Lake Tyers, saying they would prevent the passage of any persons or government representatives until their voice was heard and claims resolved. ... “We are sick of the Northern Territory style intervention imposed on us,” spokesperson for the group, Ms Edwards, said. “Our elders who fought for the land so that Aboriginal people could have a home to call our own, was to be handed back in 1970 as freehold title to the Aboriginal people after a long struggle.” “We now are in 2011 and once again are being dictated by a government whose policies on us have once again failed,” she said."
ABC: Women stage blockade at Lake Tyers Trust
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/08/3158054.htm
8 Mar 11: "Women from the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust in East Gippsland have staged a blockade to protest against Government intervention. The Lake Tyers settlement is on an isolated property east of Lakes Entrance and was awarded to the Aboriginal people in 1970. The Labor state government stepped in about eight years ago and appointed new administrators to the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust. About 10 women from the settlement have blockaded the dirt access road today turning away everyone except health services and the school bus."
MORE ON 'RACIST' ALICE SPRINGS TV ADVERTISEMENT:
See: WGAR News: Complaint against ‘racist’ Alice Springs TV ads
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/10/wgar-news-complaint-against-%E2%80%98...
See also: WGAR News: More on 'racist' Alice Springs TV advertisement
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/12/wgar-news-aboriginal-women-of-lake-ty...
- Analysis / Opinion
Green Left: Alice Springs: Ugly racism on show in TV ad
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/46970
13 Mar 11: "Aboriginal country musician Warren H Williams has launched legal action against Action for Alice’s advertisement, saying it was racist. "I have never encountered anything like the unjust portrayal and vilification demonstrated by these advertisements," Williams said on March 3. "Many Aboriginal peoples have seen these advertisements and feel they have been unjustly represented. A serious repercussion of these advertisements is the effect on self-esteem and self-worth, further fuelling a deterioration in the mental health of Indigenous peoples, particularly our youth. There is enough segregation within our society between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people … these advertisements just wedge that gap open even further.”" Peter Robson
OTHER MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP ARTICLES:
- Media Releases
Scott Ludlam: Greens fight to give Northern Territory say in nuclear waste dump plan
http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-fight-...
3 Mar 11: "The Australian Greens will move an amendment to the national radioactive waste dump legislation, seeking consent from the Northern Territory Assembly before moving to dump radioactive waste in the Territory.
"The proposal to dump radioactive waste highlights the fact that the Northern Territory does not have the same rights to determine its own affairs as the states," Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said.
"The Commonwealth knows very well that it would be more difficult to force the radioactive dump on a State, and that is one reason it is targeting the Territory. ...
Debate on the radioactive waste dump legislation has begun in the Senate, and will resume when Parliament resumes later in March."
Scott Ludlam: Radioactive waste authority must be stripped from Minister Ferguson
http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/radioactive-w...
1 Mar 11: "The Australian Greens have urged the Government to strip responsibility for radioactive waste management from Resources Minister Martin Ferguson.
Greens spokesperson for nuclear affairs Senator Scott Ludlam said nuclear waste had been in the jurisdiction of successive science ministers for decades before the "extremely unorthodox" decision of the Government to place it in the hands of the resources minister after the 2007 election.
"This responsibility was mysteriously transferred from the science portfolio, where it had been for decades, to the resources and energy portfolio, where there was no expertise whatsoever. The results are clear to see - irresponsible decisions made with totally inadequate consultation with affected parties," he said."
- Speech
Greens MPs: Taking note of answers to questions on notice about nuclear waste
http://www.greensmps.org.au/content/speech/taking-note-answers-questions...
2 Mar 11: "The first question I put, regarding the establishment of a radioactive waste facility at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory, related to recommendation 1 of the inquiry of the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Committee into the provisions of the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010, which I believe will shortly be before the Senate. Recommendation 1 said that before this project goes ahead, if indeed it ever does, the minister should as soon as possible meet with the affected parties. That does not sound too controversial to me." Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
- Video
Greens MPs: Take Note - Radioactive waste dump at Muckaty
http://greensmps.org.au/content/tv/take-note-radioactive-waste-dump-muckaty
1 Mar 11: "After a dismissive response from the government to his Question Without Notice on the lack of consultation with the traditional owners of the proposed site for the radioactive waste dump at Muckaty, Senator Ludlam let his feelings be known."
YouTube: Kylie and Kelisha at "Music for Muckaty" - 25 Feb 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PW06hG4i_A
2 Mar 11: "Muckaty women Kylie Sambo and Kelisha Green were in Melbourne for their debut performance at "Music for Muckaty", a fundraiser for the Muckaty anti-waste dump campaign, on Friday 25 February. Earlier, Kylie delivered a copy of her award-winning song "Muckaty" to Energy and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson's office ... "
YouTube: Muckaty Voices
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ovo
9 May 10: ""Muckaty Voices" is a short film capturing community resistance to an Australian government plan to dump radioactive waste at Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. ... The film was produced for the Muckaty Traditional Owners by Enlightning Productions [Eleanor Gilbert], with the support of the Beyond Nuclear Initiative."
- Analysis / Opinion
SMH: Furphies abound in Ferguson's nuclear agenda
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/furphies-abound-in-fergusons-nuclear-agend...
2 Mar 11: "As Resources Minister Martin Ferguson pushes Australia into a new future of expanding uranium exports to southern Asia and pushes nuclear power back onto the political agenda, the public will have to be duped into accepting the reality of nuclear waste dumps on Australian soil. Ferguson has been selling his contentious National Radioactive Waste Management Bill on the false notion that such a dump, to be developed at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory, is in the community interest as a repository for Australia’s nuclear medicine waste." Dr Peter Karamoskos and James Norman
- News
Tennant and District Times: Melbournites wooed by anti-nuke at Muckaty song
http://tennantcreek.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbournite...
11 Mar 11: "TWO girls who took a stand against the proposed nuclear waste dump at Muckaty were the highlight of a benefit concert in Melbourne recently. Kylie Sambo and Kelisha Green sang Music for Muckaty, a hip hop song which was penned by Kylie. The concert was organised by Friends of the Earth to raise money for protest action to prevent the dump from going ahead at Muckaty, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek."
Tennant and District Times: Traditional owner takes fight to TV
http://tennantcreek.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/traditional...
4 Mar 11: "A TRADITIONAL owner from the Barkly has met with some of the country’s most powerful politicians in his bid to stop the nuclear waste dump from being built at Muckaty Station. Mark Lang Jangala spent the start of this week lobbying policy-makers at Federal Parliament in Canberra. ... In an interview with former Tennant Times reporter and now NITV/Sky News video journalist Daniel Bourchier, Mr Lane Jangala said that the government had ignored the concerns of the great majority of stakeholders from the area."
Eco Voice: Gillard paves way for radioactive waste to be dumped on unwilling communities
http://www.ecovoice.com.au/eco-news/2385
4 Mar 11: "Western Australia's peak environment group has condemned new laws that have been pushed through Federal Parliament that pave the way for radioactive waste dumps to be imposed on local communities. ... Conservation Council Director Piers Verstegen said "This appalling legislation cannot be sugar-coated. It is intended to do one thing and that is to remove the rights of Australian communities to oppose the location of radioactive waste dumps in their backyards."
NT News: Brown's new bill to boost NT's power
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/03/02/215601_ntnews.html
2 Mar 11: "THE Federal Labor and Greens parties are supporting a Bill that would strengthen the power of the NT. The Private Member's Bill, which Greens Party leader Senator Bob Brown will propose tomorrow, would enable the NT, ACT and Norfolk Island to make laws without the possibility of being overruled by Federal Parliament."
BACKGROUND TO MUCKATY STATION NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:
Beyond Nuclear Initiative’s weblog: http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/
Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Muckaty: http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/muckaty/
Proposed Radioactive Waste Dump at Muckaty, NT
Briefing Paper - February 2011
Jim Green B.Med.Sci.(Hons.), PhD
National nuclear campaigner - Friends of the Earth, Australia
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/nontdump/Dump%20briefing%20...
Nuclear Territory News: Waste Dump News: http://ntne.ws/articles/article.php?section=waste
WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-n...
WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb...
WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump … (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-th...
WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump … (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-d...
WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-agai...
WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-i...
WGAR News: … Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampila...
WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-...
WGAR News: "Muckaty Voices" film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
https://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate...
WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-June/00...
WGAR News: PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (12 Jul 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-July/00...
WGAR News: Legislation passes enabling a nuclear waste dump to be built at Muckaty, NT (1 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/01/wgar-news-legislation-passes-enabling...
NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:
- News
NT News: White hot anger over welfare grab
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/03/15/218021_ntnews.html
15 Mar 11: "HUNDREDS of non-indigenous Territorians are bombarding Centrelink with complaints after having their welfare money "managed". The Federal Government has extended "quarantining" to all Territorians and now holds back half of all payments. Centrelink uses the money to pay essential bills, such as childcare fees. Welfare recipients who don't think they should have their fortnightly money managed must make a special case to Centrelink. One woman said: "We have to prove that we're not going to spend all the money on grog and smokes.""
BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Northern Territory National Emergency Response: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention
'concerned Australians': http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
Defending Indigenous Rights: http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/
Intervention walk-off's Blog: http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/
IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group): http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/
Jobs with Justice: http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/
Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective: http://maicollective.blogspot.com/
STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney): http://stoptheintervention.org/
ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) - NT intervention: http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention
WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights): http://wgar.info/
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