Fw: [WGAR-news] Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)

[Lyn Jones]

Julian Burnside QC is teaming up with lawyers taking the challenge to the Federal Court

 

----- Original Message -----

From: WGAR News

To: undisclosed-recipients:

Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2010 2:40 PM

Subject: [WGAR-news] Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

WGAR Website: http://wgar.info/


13 JUNE 2010: FEDERAL COURT LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP


Contents:
Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump
Other Nuclear articles
Background to Muckaty Station nuclear waste dump


FEDERAL COURT LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:


- Media Releases and Announcements

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers:
Indigenous owners launch Federal legal challenge over
Australia’s first nuclear waste dump
http://www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/news/press-releases--announcements/indigenous-owners-launch-federal-legal-challenge-over-australia%E2%80%99s-first-nuclear-waste-dump.aspx
3 Jun 10: "The Commonwealth Government and the Northern
Land Council (NLC) will face a Federal Court legal
challenge over plans for a radioactive waste dump on
Indigenous land at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek in
the Northern Territory. Mark Lane Jangala, a senior Ngapa
traditional owner for Muckaty Station claims he and many
other senior elders never gave consent and were not
consulted over the nomination of their land for Australia's
first radioactive waste dump. ... "

Beyond Nuclear Initiative:
International support for Muckaty campaign
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/2010/06/07/international-support-for-muckaty-campaign/
7 Jun 10: " ... The campaign against federal Resource
Minister Martin Ferguson’s move to dump radioactive waste
at Muckaty near Tennant Creek will feature prominently at a
major nuclear conference in the US this weekend with
Australian activists set to take the story from central
Australia to America’s third biggest city. Their
presentation will involve a detailed briefing, an update on
the newly launched federal court challenge and a plenary
screening of Muckaty Voices, the recently released story of
Traditional Owner opposition to the dump plan. ... "

Greens MPs: Greens back Traditional Owners legal action
against nuclear waste dump
http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-back-traditional-owners-legal-action-against-nuclear-waste-dump
3 Jun 10: "The Federal Government has itself to blame for a
legal challenge by Traditional Owners against its plan to
impose a radioactive waste dump on the people of the
Northern Territory, the Australian Greens say. "The Rudd
Government faces a protracted legal challenge where it
could easily have chosen a path of consultation and
consent." said Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, spokesperson on
nuclear issues."

Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Legal action against Muckaty
waste dump reveals Labor government failure.
[scroll down page] http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/media-releases/
2 Jun 10: "A federal court challenge has been lodged today
against the planned radioactive waste dump at Muckaty
Station, on Warlmanpa land in the Northern Territory.
Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI) spokesperson Natalie Wasley
says the action is an unfortunate but necessary next step
for the community opposing the dump and indicates the ALP
has failed to implement key promises on radioactive waste
management."


- News

Tennant & District Times:
Muckaty nuke dump fight heads to Federal Court
http://tennantcreek.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/muckaty-nuke-dump-fight-heads-to-federal-court/1855785.aspx
11 Jun 10: "A LEGAL challenge to the Federal Government’s
plan to establish a national nuclear waste dump at Muckatyø
has been taken to the Federal Court. A team of lawyers from
across the country launched the action yesterday to
challenge the nomination of the land at Muckaty Station. ... "

SMH: Aboriginal group challenges planned nuclear dump in court
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/aboriginal-group-challenges-planned-nuclear-dump-in-court-20100603-x7dj.html
4 Jun 10: "ABORIGINAL traditional owners have initiated a
Federal Court legal challenge to plans by the federal
government to build Australia's first national radioactive
waste dump near Tennant Creek, in the Northern Territory.
Mark Lane Jangala, a senior elder of the Ngapa clan, says
he and many other senior elders were not consulted about
the nomination of their land. ... "

The New Lawyer:
Maurice Blackburn, Julian Burnside, charged with waste dump action
http://www.thenewlawyer.com.au/article/maurice-blackburn-julian-burnside-charged-with-waste-dump-action/518250.aspx
3 Jun 10: "THE Commonwealth Government and the Northern
Land Council will face a Federal Court legal challenge over
plans for a radioactive waste dump in the Northern
Territory. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers is working with NSW
law firm Surry Partners, and Julian Burnside QC, to
commence proceedings challenging the nomination of the
Indigenous land, at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek. ... "

SMH: Waste dump fight goes to court
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/waste-dump-fight-goes-to-court-20100603-x3g5.html
3 Jun 10: "Aboriginal traditional owners opposed to a
planned radioactive waste dump in the Northern Territory
have taken their fight to the federal court. Labor made an
election promise to repeal the previous coalition
government's legislation to set up the dump, pledging to
replace it with a more transparent and accountable process. ... "

ABC: NT nuclear waste dump faces legal challenge
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/03/2917241.htm
3 Jun 10: " ... The Commonwealth has signed a deal with
some traditional owners for land at Muckaty Station, north
of Tennant Creek, to be used for the dump. George Newhouse
is part of the legal team for a different group of
traditional owners who say they were not consulted on the
site's nomination. Mr Newhouse says his clients do not want
compensation but for the nomination of the site to be
withdrawn. ... "

National Indigenous Radio Service:
Muckaty nuclear waste dump to be challenged
http://www.nirs.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3815:muckaty-nuclear-waste-dump-to-be-challenged&catid=2:news-broadcasts&Itemid=65
3 Jun 10: "... Mr Newhouse says his clients do not want
compensation but for the nomination of the site to be
withdrawn. "This isn't about compensation at all," he said.
"This is about the fact that the Northern Land Council has
nominated traditional Aboriginal land for a nuclear waste
dump without the consent of the traditional owners." ... "

NT News: Legal challenge to nuke dump launched
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/06/03/153001_ntnews.html
3 Jun 10: "In a statement released following the launching
of legal action, Mr Lane Jangala said he has been
campaigning against the use of the site because of its
cultural significance. "I am senior Ngapa man for Muckaty
and I did not agree to the nomination of the site, along
with other senior Ngapa elders for Muckaty Station who did
not agree," he said. "We don't want it.""


- Opinion/Analysis:

Songlines: Let’s end the Nuclear Nightmare at Muckaty, NT.
by Bruce Reyburn in Tennant Creek/Nyinkka Nyunyu town
http://songlines.org.au/2010/06/03/nuclear-nightmare-at-muckaty-nt/
Mabo Day 3 June 2010: " ... The Federal Government now
needs to respect this decision by the Aboriginal Land
Commissioner and, as a first step, deal with the
traditional owners of Muckaty via the single land trust. If
not, the impending Federal Court challenge – the
non-indigenous song and dance – provides one opportunity
for restoring due process. And failing all that, a
movement of peoples … "


OTHER NUCLEAR ARTICLES:


- News

SMH: Union plan to starve industry of labour
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/union-plan-to-starve-industry-of-labour-20100601-wts3.html
1 Jun 10: "A major union expects others to join its
campaign to "starve" Australia's uranium industry of
workers. The Electrical Trades Union has banned its members
from working on uranium mines, nuclear power stations or
any other part of the nuclear fuel cycle. ... "


BACKGROUND TO MUCKATY STATION NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:


- Video

Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Video
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/video/
* “Muckaty Voices” is a short film capturing community
  resistance to an Australian government plan to dump
  radioactive waste at Muckaty Station ...
* April 30, 2010: Nuclear Waste Dump – Muckaty Update
* From Muckaty to Melbourne: Public Meeting April 21, 2010


- Audio

Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Audio
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/audio/
* April 21, 2010: From Muckaty to Melbourne:
  Public Meeting- Northcote Town Hall
* April 3, 2010: No Muckaty nuclear dump:
  Community rally and march in Tennant Creek
* March 3, 2010: Muckaty nuclear waste dump announcement-
  public meeting in Tennant Creek


- News

WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-northern-territory-2-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb66205849

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump … (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-the-gap-day-28-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump … (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-dump-welfare-quarantining-4-apr-10

WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-against-muckaty-nuclear-waste-dump-12th-april

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-inquiry-in-darwin-nationwide-protests-17-apr-10

WGAR News: … Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampilatwatja-aboriginal-worker-dismissed-23-apr-10

WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-nuclear-waste-dump/

WGAR News: "Muckaty Voices" film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate-report-into-nuclear-waste-dump-plan-16-may-10


- - -

Subscription to 'WGAR News' is free.

'WGAR News' monitors the media, including alternative media,
focusing on the Australian Federal government intervention
into Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal communities along
with other Aboriginal rights issues.

The e-newsletters include media releases, opinion pieces
and news items. Subscribers can expect to receive about 2
e-newsletters each week.

To subscribe, email wgar...@gmail.com and include the
words "subscribe WGAR News" in the message header.

To unsubscribe, email wgar...@gmail.com and include the
words "unsubscribe WGAR News" in the message header.

- - -

You can also subscribe to our second list 'Contact WGAR'
which focuses on activities and events and provides a point
of contact.

To subscribe, email conta...@gmail.com and include the
words "subscribe WGAR Contact" in the message header.

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)