Friends of the Earth Brisbane
Anti-Nuclear Collective
Member Queensland Nuclear Free Alliance (QNFA)
PO Box 5702 West End Qld 4101
Mobile: 0411 118 737

Nuclear Free Queensland
PO Box 5829
West End Q 4101
mbl. 0411 118 737

www.nuclearfreequeensland.org

Media Release - Embargoed until August 30, 2006

Parsons on the Brink of Nuclear Disaster

People in numerous cities across Australia will today target Parsons Brinckerhoff, the private company contracted to assess the Federal Government's proposed sites for a Commonwealth nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. 

A range of creative and diverse actions will occur at Parsons Brinckerhoff offices in Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Holly Creenaune, National Convenor of the Australian Student Environment Network said "Communities surrounding all of the sites being assessed in the Northern Territory ; Harts Range, Mt Everard, and Fishers Ridge, remain strongly opposed to hosting a nuclear waste dump for the next few thousand years.”
"We don't want radioactive waste transported through or stored in our communities. There is still no safe way of storing nuclear waste. The proposed NT waste dump will be a radioactive blight on Australia and a direct threat to humans and the environment for thousands of years."

Joel Catchlove from Friends of the Earth Adelaide said, "Parsons Brinckerhoff is a key player in the expansion of Australia's nuclear industry, providing consultancy to push ahead new uranium mines, nuclear reactors and waste dumps in Australia.” Natalie Wasley from the Arid Lands Environment Centre, Alice Springs, added “new Commonwealth legislation overriding NT law, and an absence of public consultation and information raises legitimate concerns that Parsons Brinckerhoff's site selection process will be secretive and ignore important social and environmental criteria.”

“The Federal Government is trying to force their radioactive waste onto the Territory because they believe it is the middle of no-where and no-one cares what happens in the desert. The support shown today by people around the country is a strong reminder that this issue resonates with many Australians who are concerned about the undemocratic process foisting a Commonwealth radioactive dump on the NT.”

CONTACT: Holly Creeaune 0417 682 541
Natalie Wasley 0429 900 774