The Australian Greens have introduced legislation to repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005, which has been referred to a Committee Inquiry.

• My speech in Parliament
• The Minister's response to my question
• A short speech in response to the Minister's answer
• Download the bill (PDF file)
• Make a submission to the Inquiry 

Radioactive waste is uniquely hazardous to human health and the environment, and will persist for thousands of human generations to come. Decision-making about radioactive materials should not be politically motivated, but based on scientific facts and with the interests of current and particularly future generations firmly in mind.

The Greens will be pushing to protect the Northern Territory and particularly communities around Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek, which may well get a nuclear waste dump unless this law is repealed.

Rather than leaving Territory communities in the dark, this act must be repealed now so that we can move forward with some transparency.

Exactly one year ago this week, senior ALP spokespeople reiterated the party's platform to repeal this legislation. The Australian Greens are tired of waiting for the ALP to deliver what they unequivocally promised and will move for a repeal of the heavy handed and controversial legislation today in the Senate.

Repealing this legislation will pave the way for a new approach to the management of Australia's radioactive waste. The Territory Government, the Traditional Owners and the broader community across the NT were never asked if they wanted to host a dump for Australia's most intractable waste. The Prime Minister must now be called to account: this was a very clear election promise, and it is time it was honoured.