

MEDIA RELEASE

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Senator Lyn Allison

Australian Democrats

Spokesperson on nuclear issues

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April 21, 1999

99/210

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Wild West courts a radioactive nightmare

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Comments by the Western Australian Energy Minister, Colin Barnett, 
that there may be as many as 11 ur anium mines in WA in five years 
indicate a radioactive future out of control, according to the Australian 
Democrats.

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Democrats’ spokesperson on nuclear issues, Senator 
Lyn Allison, said Mr Barnett’s comments signal a step-up in the pro-uranium 
campaigns of the federal and West Australian governments.

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“Those opposed to the nuclear industry and Australia’s 
part in it should take note of the West Australian government’s intentions,” 
Senator Allison said.

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“Only two years ago Australia had just two operational 
uranium mines, now we’re looking down the barrel of 11 uranium mines 
in WA alone. We also have the Beverley acid leaching mine and the expansion 
of Roxby Downs in South Australia, the ongoing struggle at Jabiluka 
and the proposal by Pangea to site a high-level nuclear waste dump in 
Australia.

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“The federal government is uranium-obsessed and 
will stop at nothing in encouraging this industry,” Senator Allison 
added.

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On Tuesday this week Mr Barnett told the Western Australian 
Parliament that WA could become a site for nuclear waste disposal if 
it became part of the nuclear industry. He said any country that is 
a “significant uranium producer has some moral and international responsibility” 
to take part in the nuclear waste debate.

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“Mr Barnett’s comments vindicate concerns by the 
Democrats and environmental groups that the more Australia exports uranium 
the greater the pressure for us to store the world’s nuclear waste, 
ala Pangea’s proposal,” Senator Allison said.

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Senator Allison added that revelations that the proposed 
dump may be sited within the Cosmo Newbury Aboriginal Reserve revealed 
that Pangea would be “another nightmare for indigenous people”.

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“Pangea’s proposal was a complete surprise to 
the traditional owners of the region and their representatives at the 
Ngaanyatjarra Land Council. The Ngaanyatjarra people are totally opposed 
to this proposal, and with good very reason. It appears Pangea may well 
be looking to locate the nuclear waste dump within 10 kilometres of 
the Aboriginal community at Cosmo Newbury.”

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Senator Allison drew the parallel to the testing of 
atomic weapons at Maralinga during the 1 950s, carried out with disregard 
to the traditional owners of the region. She said a central aspect missing 
in the current public debate over Pangea is the right for traditional 
owners to speak for their country.

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“With its massive budget, Pangea has nothing to 
lose and everything to gain. Both the British and U.S. governments have 
spent years and hundreds of millions of dollars failing to find storage 
for their nuclear waste. They want to eventually push this through, 
or as Pangea’s general manager Jim Voss has said, turn a no into a 
yes. It won’t be that difficult with comments like Mr Barnett’s.

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“This is all the more reason for the Federal Government 
to put its money where its mouth is and legislate to prohibit the importation 
of foreign nuclear waste,” Senator Allison said.

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Contacts: Justin O’Brien on 0411 473 697, Senator 
Lyn Allison 015 691 512

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