This is an extraordinary win for the elders and their families who have sought to protect country on behalf of all of us. They should never have had the burden of dealing with Australia's radioactive waste laid on them, first by the Howard Government, and then by the Rudd/Gillard Government. Now that burden is lifted.

It is essential that Australia's disgraceful history of targeting Aboriginal communities to host our 60-year legacy of spent reactor fuel is never repeated again.

The Greens have strongly rejected the proposal by former Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke to turn Australia into a dump for the world’s nuclear waste.

Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the plan was “the worst imaginable way to raise revenue”.

“What Mr. Hawke is proposing is criminal activity.  The Parliament passed Greens amendments last year to prohibit the importation of nuclear waste. 

Resources, Energy and Tourism Portfolio

Budget Estimates

3 June 2013

Question: BR5

Budget Estimates Monday 3 June 2013 - Economics Committee

Senator LUDLAM: I have three quick issues to raise in the brief time remaining. If it was not already canvassed before I got here, I understand that DRET commissioned CSIRO to prepare a report on residential energy efficiency, the residential ratings project. Has that been received by the department and when are you proposing to release it?

Mr Divall : Senator, could I just ask the name of the report you are after?

Senator LUDLAM: The residential ratings project.

The departure of Martin Ferguson from the Cabinet presents a circuit breaker for the Federal Government to progress a real solution for Australia's radioactive waste problem, the Greens said today.

"If responsibility for the waste site is to remain with Mr Gary Gray's portfolio, he should immediately move to drop the campaign to dump the waste at Muckaty Station," said Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear policy Senator Scott Ludlam.

(Question No. 2556)

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 20 November 2012:

(Question No. 2389)

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister for Resources & Energy, upon notice, on 19 October 2012:

A new earthquake hazards map produced by Geoscience Australia reveals Tennant Creek - near the proposed site for a nuclear waste dump - is an area of high earthquake risk.

Report: http://www.ga.gov.au/earthquakes/

Following revelations that an alternative site for the waste dump was under active consideration, Australian Greens spokesperson for nuclear policy Senator Scott Ludlam noted the Federal Government appeared increasingly desperate on the issue.