Canberra dangles $10m nuclear waste dump carrot

Outbackjack: The Federal Government has made an agreement with the Opposition that will pave the way for Australia's first national radioactive waste dump.

The Radioactive Waste Management Bill is listed for debate in the Senate today.

Northern Territory Country Liberals Senator Nigel Scullion says he has secured Labor support for a minimum $10 million fund that would be paid to the jurisdiction that accepts the facility.

Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says the Government is prepared to support the Opposition plan.

"There is an agreement between the Coalition and the Government as to a responsibilities to store our waste in a proper way, that is accountable to the community," he said.

Senator Scullion says, while the legislation does not target the Territory, he thinks it is likely the waste disposal facility will be built there.

"This fund will enable the Territory, where it is very difficult to raise large amounts of money, (to do work) in areas like nuclear medicine and oncology," he said.

"(These) do cost an awful lot of money and we can ensure that Territorians are getting the very best, the same as any other Australians."

The Greens want the legislation delayed.

They say details surrounding the Government's preferred site of Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory have not been finalised.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlum says it is wrong to proceed while Indigenous groups wage a court battle over ownership of the land.

"I think it is totally inappropriate that the Bill is before the Senate while the Government doesn't yet know whose land they are dealing with," he said.

"There is a very serious challenge by the traditional owners of the Barkly region, a challenge to the Federal Government and to the Northern Land Council.

"They are basically saying they had no right to give up the land in the first place.

"I find it offensive."

Outbackjack: HANDS OFF MUCKATY!!!!!!!!!!!!

AussieOi: I'll second that, nuclear waste hangs around far longer than our politicians do.

DiIIy: Is this just a dump for Australias nuclear waste??? Its not going to be a world dump for a nice big storage fee.

If its just Australian waste then each state should have their own dump site and not just dump it in someone else backyard.

Outbackjack: It will start off small but before you know it the whole world will be dumping their waste here.They already had a go at dumping it here in Western Australia but they failed.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangea_Resources

I remember the stupid statements that were being made at the time by some of the proponents (who stood to make millions).
"Australia has a moral responsibility to help the world out by taking its waste."

Pigs arse! We dont have any real nuclear facilities here so why should we take your problems.

If the Romans had nuclear power we would still be guarding their waste.