By Rich Bowden:

The Australian Greens have given their support to a legal action brought by traditional landowners around Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory over the siting of a proposed radioactive waste dump, saying the federal Government had acted incorrectly in its attempts to resolve the matter.

Senator Scott Ludlam, Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues, said the Government had brought the legal action on itself after poor handling of negotiations on the matter.

“The Rudd Government faces a protracted legal challenge where it could easily have chosen a path of consultation and consent.” said Senator Scott Ludlam.

“Minister Martin Ferguson should be stood down from all matters relating to radioactive waste management, after his predatory targeting of Traditional Owners responsible for the lands around Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory.

He said Traditional Owners of the land had been left with “no alternative” but to sue after negotiations had broken down.

“Traditional Owners have been left with no alternative but to challenge the nomination of Muckaty Station in court and the Greens will be right behind them.

“The Rudd Government chose a politically expedient solution to the long term problem of nuclear waste, which this morning has blown up in their faces,” Senator Ludlam said.

Tags: Greens, martin ferguson, muckaty legal action, muckaty station, scott ludlam