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YouTube – Muckaty Voices

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ov

The proposed waste dump law excludes the Muckaty Traditional Owners from procedural fairness and appeal rights, removes Aboriginal Heritage and environmental protections and overrides any Commonwealth, State and Territory laws that could be used to oppose or challenge the dump plan.

From the campfire to cyberspace: Radioactive waste concerns go global, Natalie Wasley, 18 May 2001 Aboriginal Traditional Owners opposed to a radioactive waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory of Australia have taken their campaign to a global online audience.

The short film “Muckaty Voices” [1] has now been uploaded to youtube, documenting the story and concerns of people directly affected by the controversial federal government plan.

Muckaty Traditional Owner Doris Kelly Nakamarra said “We made the film to show we are the Traditional Owners for our Grandmothers and Grandfathers. We want to be even with people, even talking about who is on the right and wrong. We want people to sit down and see the picture properly, to look at it and see how things should be.”

A deal between the Northern Land Council and the federal Government to use the Muckaty site remains confidential.  While some members of the Muckaty Land Trust support a radioactive waste dump in return for access to roads, housing and infrastructure, many do not and are highly critical of the approach being taken by federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson.

Muckaty Traditional Owner Mark Lane Jangala, a member of the Ngapa group said to be supporting the dump said, “We don’t want it. There are plenty of sacred sites. There is not just Ngapa in there, there are other groups too. There was not a meeting in town consulting all of the Traditional Owners for the land, they just got the individual people they knew. The others, we were left out. We are going against it, we are fighting against it. We are going to challenge them in court and then through our court- Aboriginal Law and culture with the dot paintings on our body.”

The film launch follows release of a Senate Committee report recommending passage of legislation specifically targeting Muckaty for the dump. The Committee admitted it had not had access to key project documents including the secret site nomination and anthropologist’s reports.

Minister Ferguson’s draft law – the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – is based heavily on legislation from the previous Howard government. It was scheduled for introduction to the Senate last week but has been delayed until June sittings. “Muckaty Voices” has been sent to all federal Labor Senators ahead of the vote.

The proposed waste dump law excludes the Muckaty Traditional Owners from procedural fairness and appeal rights, removes Aboriginal Heritage and environmental protections and overrides any Commonwealth, State and Territory laws that could be used to oppose or challenge the dump plan.

Critics including Traditional Owners, the Central Land Council, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and national environment organisations have condemned the laws as undemocratic and out of step with international practices, including Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Traditional Owners are increasing their efforts against the nuclear dump plan and their campaign is the focus of a growing national fight.

Muckaty Traditional Owner Dianne Stokes concluded, “We made the video throughout the Warlmanpa land. It is all of the Milwayi story. Along with that, we have some songs and dances to represent the country. Martin Ferguson has avoided us and ignored our letters but he knows very well how we feel. He has been arrogant and secretive and he thinks he has gotten away with his plan but in fact he has a big fight on his hands.”

“Muckaty Voices” can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ovo

For more information contact:

Beyond Nuclear Initiative coordinator Natalie Wasley – 0429 900 774.

Muckaty Traditional Owner Mark Lane – 0457 085 235 (12pm-1pm preferred).

[1] “Muckaty Voices” is a 10 minute documentary commissioned by Muckaty Traditional Owners opposed to radioactive waste being stored on their country. It was produced by Eleanor Gilbert of Enlightning Productions, with support from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative.