Nuclear waste site a target for terrorists, expert warns  

The SMH has an article on the proposed nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory - Nuclear waste site a target for terrorists, expert warns.

A BRITISH nuclear risk expert has warned that terrorists could target radioactive waste being transported thousands of kilometres across Australia to a proposed waste dump in the Northern Territory.

John Large, who advises governments, companies and non-government agencies, said the waste that will be taken to the remote site on the disused Muckaty cattle station is suitable for use in a "dirty" radioactive bomb that could be built with limited technology or knowledge.

Experts acknowledge a home-made radioactive bomb is the most likely terrorist nuclear threat, he said. ...

Mr Large told the Herald that transporting waste by land routes is prone to accident, open to a malicious act and requires additional packaging and handling for transportation. He said it would be a major target for terrorists.

Mr Large made the comments after a Labor-led Senate committee last Friday upheld a move by the federal Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson, to build Australia's first national radioactive waste dump at Muckaty, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek.

The move comes despite objections from the Northern Territory government and many Aboriginal traditional owners in the area, who have challenged the right of one family clan to offer a 1.5 square kilometre site in return for at least $11 million in cash and access to services.

The committee ignored a number of warnings about the risk of transporting radioactive waste and submissions that it should be stored close to the point of its production.