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Nuclear risk expert warns on terrorist risk of Australia’s planned nuclear waste dump

Nuclear waste site a target for terrorists, expert warns, Sydney Morning Herald, LINDSAY MURDOCH DARWIN May 11, 2010 A BRITISH nuclear risk expert has warned that terrorists could target radioactive waste being transported thousands of kilometres across Australia to a proposed waste dump in the Northern Territory.
John Large, who advises governments, companies and non-government agencies, said the waste that will be taken to the remote site on the disused Muckaty cattle station is suitable for use in a “dirty” radioactive bomb that could be built with limited technology or knowledge.

Experts acknowledge a home-made radioactive bomb is the most likely terrorist nuclear threat, he said.

Mr Large told the Herald that transporting waste by land routes is prone to accident, open to a malicious act and requires additional packaging and handling for transportation. He said it would be a major target for terrorists.

Mr Large made the comments after a Labor-led Senate committee last Friday upheld a move by the federal Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson, to build Australia’s first national radioactive waste dump at Muckaty, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek….a report by Mr Large’s company, Large & Associates, said it was known that one terrorist group in Britain acquired plans for a nuclear power station and the location of radioactive waste storage facilities.

The report said terrorists had ”no reservations about the use of radioactivity” to create mayhem.

Nuclear waste site a target for terrorists, expert warns

May 11, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, safety | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium