People Planet Peace

Senator Scott Ludlam Australian Greens Senator for WA

 Ferguson continues Howard's nuclear policies, but with a deceitful edge

The Australian Greens have written to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd demanding that responsibility for radioactive waste management be stripped from Industry Minister Martin Ferguson and returned to the Science portfolio.

"It is clear that Minister Ferguson's management of the radioactive waste issue is at odds with ALP pre-election promises, and his manner of dealing with Departmental officers extremely questionable," said Australian Greens nuclear issues spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

"It was shocking to learn in Senate Estimates hearings yesterday that the senior officer responsible for progressing the national radioactive waste dump admitted he has been waiting for directions from Minister Martin Ferguson since February and has no idea what the Government's intentions are,"

"When in opposition, the ALP promised consultation on radioactive waste management. Instead we are seeing one of the least consultative processes possible. Even the public servants responsible have no idea if the Minister intends to select one site, the original four, or begin a whole new process from scratch," said Senator Ludlam.

"The Department is now getting the same treatment as Traditional Owners, conservationists, Greens MPs and the entire population of the Northern Territory. This becomes increasingly worrying when you consider that it is the Department's responsibility to spend $10 million dollars to initiate the waste dump project, after the Minister finally announces his intentions."

"Eighteen months after coming into Government, Minister Ferguson has not asked the Department to draft the repeal legislation promised prior to the election campaign."

"The scoping work on the four sites announced under the Howard Government was completed in February and the Minister is still considering them. As far as the Department knows, only these sites are under consideration, meaning that ALP policy has been disregarded in favour of seamless continuity with John Howard's process."

"The only difference with this Minister's handling of radioactive waste dumps is that at least John Howard was honest about his intentions. It is well past time the Prime Minister removed this responsibility from Minister Ferguson, as he has no intention of delivering on any promises to the Australian people," he concluded.