The Barngarla people, traditional owners of the land in South Australia, have won a court ruling blocking the construction of a nuclear waste dump on their land. The judge cited "apprehended bias" by former Coalition resources minister Keith Pitt as grounds for setting aside the government's decision to build the dump near Kimba. The Barngarla people have been fighting for their traditional lands for more than two decades and celebrated the ruling as a victory for listening to First Nations people. The court found that Pitt's public statements indicated a pre-judgment in favor of the facility and a dismissive attitude towards the Barngarla people. The federal government had spent nearly $14 million in legal costs fighting the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation (Bdac). Environmental campaigners argue that the waste should be kept at the Lucas Heights facility in Sydney. The resources minister said he was disappointed by the ruling, claiming that without the facility, the country's ability to provide nuclear medicine would be threatened.
Tue, 18 Jul 2023 08:47:00 GMT | The Guardian