Cape York Traditional Owners call on LNP to rule out nuclear waste in FNQ

Traditional Owners across the Cape York Peninsula have issued a statement calling on LNP Leichhardt candidate Jeremy Neal and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to categorically rule out using Far North Queensland as a potential dumping ground for nuclear waste.

The call follows Mr Neal’s comments on ABC’s AM program last week, where he referenced the need for nuclear waste storage to be somewhere “very remote” and implied his electorate could be on the table.

In a follow-up interview with the Cairns Post, Mr Neal said that while he wasn’t proposing Far North Queensland to host nuclear waste, the decision of where to store waste was one for the Albanese Government.

Traditional Custodians from across the Cape say the comments have raised alarm and want clear assurances that their lands and communities will not be considered at any stage.

Joint statement from Traditional Owners across Cape York, representing Kuuku-Yalanji, Kalkajaka, and Normanby

We, Traditional Owners from Cape York, strongly oppose any proposal to store nuclear waste on our Country. We call on Mr Jeremy Neal and Mr Peter Dutton to immediately and publicly rule out Far North Queensland as a dumping site for radioactive waste.

Mr Neal’s comments this past week show he does not know how special Cape York is. Cape York has world heritage rainforests, reef, and deep cultural significance. We have some of the most threatened species up here.

This is our home, our culture, and our identity. Suggesting this region as a possible dump site, whether intentional or not, is deeply disrespectful. We’ve been caretakers of this Country for thousands of years, we won’t be silent while others carelessly suggest putting it at risk.

We don’t need nuclear power, and we certainly don’t want nuclear waste. If Mr Neal is serious about representing us, he needs to speak with us. Off-handed comments on the radio and passing the buck to someone else is the wrong way to do this. Come and sit with us.

Kuuku-Yalanji Traditional Owner Eric Rosendale said

The idea of putting unknown waste into unknown country is reckless.

The idea of transporting radioactive material over 1,5000 kilometres from Central Queensland, across one of the worst roads on the continent is reckless.

Kalkajaka Traditional Owner, Neville Bowen said

This would never be suggested for a city or anywhere near Cairns, so why up here? Why are we on the table as a rubbish bin for the rest of Australia?

Normanby Aboriginal Corporation Ranger and Balngnarrawarra man, Vince Harrigan said

85% of the Cape is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Our communities are already being burdened by decisions made far away.

Many of our communities live in third-world conditions, with poor housing, services, and infrastructure. The LNP should consider committing to fixing those needs first, don’t come here looking for somewhere to dump nuclear waste.

Queensland Conservation Council Chair and Kuuku Yalangi man, Trevor Meldum said

Haven’t we learnt from history? Disasters like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island should be a warning sign.

Nuclear is just a useless debate when we have clean, safe renewables at our fingertips. We don’t need nuclear power, and we certainly don’t want nuclear waste.

Share Tweet Email