Contrary to the assurance to Gunns from Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the Greens have released legal advice that the construction of Gunns' pulp mill cannot begin before all issues affecting threatened and migratory species have been assessed.

This, in turn, requires the hydrodynamic modelling of mill effluent pouring into Bass Strait to be completed.

The advice was provided to Tasmanian Greens Senator Christine Milne by Bleyer Lawyers and released today by Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown (attached).

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has welcomed the recommendations of a Senate Inquiry to scrap the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act.

“Labor went to the last election promising to repeal this radioactive legislation", said Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.   

Premier Barnett’s decision to give the green light to uranium mining in WA is dangerous and undemocratic, according to the Greens (WA).

“The Liberal party were elected with 24 seats in the last election promising open-slather uranium mining. The Labor party won 28 seats on a nuclear-free platform. This government does not have a mandate to allow uranium mining,” said Greens MP Giz Watson.

“I do not have the confidence in our environmental and public health safeguards – the lead poisoning disaster in Esperance and ongoing issues with Alcoa’s operations are case in point,” said Ms Watson.

Senator Scott Ludlam warned that Commonwealth legal protections were of no use either.

“Peter Garrett has gone missing in action. Martin Ferguson is running the show, demanding uranium development at all costs. These are scary times.”

The Australian Greens say Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson should rethink plans for a nuclear dump in the Northern Territory after evidence to a Senate Inquiry revealed strong opposition from traditional owners.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, in Alice Springs today for the second day of a Senate Inquiry, said he was deeply disturbed to see the feeling of betrayal in the Indigenous community over nuclear dump plans for the Northern Territory - and Muckaty station north of Tennant Creek in particular.

'Martin Ferguson wouldn't build a nuclear dump in Batman'

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has challenged Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson to visit the site of a proposed nuclear dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory before giving the go-ahead.

Speaking before a protest rally in Alice Springs today ahead of a Senate Inquiry investigating whether the nuclear dump proposal should be stopped, Senator Ludlam said he was shocked at the extent to which traditional owners were being ignored by Minister Ferguson.

Senator Scott Ludlam, the Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues is calling on the government to provide a policy briefing for senior official, Ziggy Switkowski, who keeps forgetting that the Rudd government has ruled out nuclear power in Australia.

Dr Switkowski is Chairman of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and told a meeting of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in Adelaide last night, that nuclear power should supply 30% of Australia's energy by 2050.

"Dr Switkowskis is out of step with the science and public opinion, and I've never understood why the Chairman of a Government agency spends so much time promoting an activity that is illegal in Australia. By his own admission, it will take fifteen years before nuclear power is available, yet we can have a safe, efficient renewable energy grid up and running well before then. Why would we radiate, when we can shine?"

The Australian Greens are urging Australia not to proceed with sales of uranium to Russia, in light of a new poll showing strong opposition to the plan.

The Australian Conservation Foundation commissioned Newspoll to conduct a survey of 1,200 people and revealed today that 62 per cent are opposed to selling uranium to countries with nuclear arms.

Greens Nuclear Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam says the poll shows the government is out of step with public opinion.