Govt urged to scrap plans for nuclear dumps

There are renewed calls for the Federal Government to scrap its plans to build a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory.

A new storage facility for radioactive waste could be built at the Lucas Heights research reactor in Sydney.

[But... there are also, no doubt, renewed calls for the Federal Government to scrap its plans to build a 'nukiller' wast dump at Lucas Heights research reactor in Sydney and to scrap the Lucas Heights reactor itself as a threat to public health.]

The Federal Government is also considering three sites in the Northern Territory for a long-term waste dump.

[However, there are, no doubt, renewed calls for the Federal Government to scrap its plans to build a long-term nukiller wast dump in the Northern Territory.]

Natalie Wasley from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative says there is no need to bring the waste to the NT.

"This is welcome news for the targeted communities because it means that there are other options that the Federal Government can be looking at for the waste, the majority of which is produced at the Lucas Heights reactor," she said.

She says the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act should be repealed, as promised.

"Before the federal election there was a very clear commitment from the Labor Government that they, if elected, would repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Management Act, so we're really strongly encouraging them to do that and to actually repeal that act and scrap the NT dump plan."

Quote: So where does that leave us? How about a long-term 'nukiller' waste dump at Parliament House ACT? Any takers?

Radiation checks lessened at mine: Greens

The Greens say standards for radiation monitoring at the Olympic Dam mine owned by BHP Billiton have been watered down by the South Australian Government.

SA Greens MP Mark Parnell says documents he has obtained under freedom of information raise serious concerns about how often testing for radiation occurs at the mine in outback SA.

He says reports provided to the Environment Protection Authority by BHP Billiton lack detail about radiation exposure for people working in areas of the uranium and copper mine where the risk is highest.

Mr Parnell says tougher reporting standards are needed.

"Our criticism here is of the Government because it's the Government that sets the standards for radiation monitoring," he said.

"BHP Billiton will only do what the Government makes them do. If the Government waters down the standards then it's their responsibility if workers are being put at risk."