The land around Muckaty Station, 120km north of Tennant Creek, was nominated in 2007 as a possible nuclear waste dump site by the Northern Land Council. A small group of traditional owners, hoping for a combination of cash and improved services like roads, housing and education, agreed.
Many other traditional owners remain opposed to the plan and have been highly critical of the process and approach taken by resources minister Martin Ferguson. Labor simply repackaged John Howard’s racist laws for the dump.
The laws clearly conflict with ALP policies and 2007 election promises. Labor continues Howard’s suspension of key Aboriginal heritage and environmental protections. The ALP continues to override any commonwealth, state or territory laws that could delay or frustrate the dump.
The traditional owners made the short film Muckaty Voices, which can be viewed , to show to a Senate Inquiry in April 2010 as part of their battle to protect their land.