Thousands call for SA nuclear dump plans to be scrapped, as Labor remains silent on the issue
More than 3000 people have signed a petition urging the Federal Government to scrap plans for a nuclear dump in SA’s north. It comes as Federal Labor remains silent on whether it would push ahead with the stalled plans.
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More than 3000 people have signed a petition urging the Federal Government to scrap plans for a nuclear dump at Kimba or Hawker.
It comes as Federal Labor remains silent on whether it would push ahead with the stalled plans, if it came to power next month.
The Hawker and Kimba communities say they are in a “holding pattern” as they await progress on work to select a nuclear dump site, which has ground to a halt amid a legal battle.
No Dump Alliance’s Mara Bonacci said campaigners would tomorrow give Grey MP Rowan Ramsey a petition calling for the Government to take sites at Hawker and Kimba off the table.
Ms Bonacci said it should introduce “an independent process to look at the best place for waste in SA”.
“Australia’s waste is a national issue and putting the burden on two semirural communities isn’t fair,” she said.
“They haven’t consulted anybody properly. They’re looking for a postcode, and not the best process.”
The Federal Government plans to use the new dump to store waste from the production of nuclear medicines.
However, it was unclear whether a potential change of government might result in an overhaul of the trouble-plagued planning process, as Labor did not respond to The Advertiser’s repeated inquiries about the issue.
Aboriginal associations in Hawker and Kimba have opposed a move to set up a radioactive waste dump in their traditional lands.
The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation complained that Kimba Council’s plan to run a community ballot about whether it supported the dump, was discriminatory.
It launched Federal Court action, taking issue with the council’s plan to exclude native-title owners from the ballot because they did not live in the district.
Kimba Council chief executive Deborah Larwood in January gave evidence in court, but since then, has heard nothing about future proceedings.
“From the council’s perspective we’re basically in a holding pattern,” Ms Larwood said.
The district stands to receive a Federal Government “community development” package worth about $31 million if Kimba is selected for the dump.
In Hawker, Flinders Ranges Mayor Peter Slattery said his district, too, was “in limbo” until court action — both the Barngarla case and another flagged by the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association (ATLA) — was settled.
“I think we’re looking at a pretty long hiatus,” Mr Slattery said.
The dump debate had been a “divisive” issue.
“Regardless of what happens, there’s not going to be a decision in the next six months and it could be much longer,” Mr Slattery said.
The protracted debate was generating “growing frustrations” on both sides of the fence.
“Everyone is wearying of the process and the antagonism it’s generated,” Mr Slattery said.
Maurice Blackburn senior associate Nicki Lees, representing ATLA, said the Hawker ballot would have excluded a significant number of Adnyamathanha people.
The organisation in December lodged a complaint in the Australian Human Rights Commission and was awaiting conciliation.
It also claims Commonwealth contractors carried out ground disturbing work in the area, which desecrated land sacred to Adnyamathanha women, causing them “great distress”.
Ms Lees said it made sense to await the outcome of the Kimba case before potentially launching ATLA’s own court action.
Resources Minister Matt Canavan said the Hawker and Kimba ballots were due last year.
“As this matter is before the courts, the Government cannot speculate on when any community ballot may be held,” Mr Canavan said.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au
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