You think Australia's making an Olympic sized mistake by going ahead with the proposed Olympic Dam uranium mine at Roxby Downs? Sandi Keane shows how you can have your say.
The SA Greens moved on Wednesday to push for a Parliamentary select committee to review the highly controversial Roxby Indenture legislation steamrollered through SA parliament 20 years ago by the Liberal government giving BHP (the Big Australian as it was then) unfettered access to our resources by overriding the state’s most important Aboriginal Heritage, environment, natural resources, water resources acts and FOI acts.
If you’re worried about radiated clouds of dust lighting up the neighbouring sky, live near Roxby Downs, have concerns about the misuse of our Great Artisan Basin, or the fact that a fault line runs right through the planned expansion site, contact the Greens who appealed for submissions yesterday to amend the Indenture legislation. The following is a copy of their email, which provides all the details you need to make a submission:
Dear friends,
This morning, the Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) (Amendment of Indenture) Amendment Bill 2011 was introduced into the House of Assembly.
Here is a link to the Bill:
http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/B/CURRENT/ROXBY%20DOWNS%20(INDENTURE%20RATIFICATION)%20(AMENDMENT%20OF%20INDENTURE)%20AMENDMENT%20BILL%202011.aspx
A select committee will be formed to consider the Bill and prepare a report before Members of Parliament in the Lower House formally commence debate.
Here are some details:
- The committee will consist of 4 Labor and 3 Liberal Members: Kevin Foley, Patrick Conlon, Tom Koutsantonis, Jack Snelling, Isobel Redmond, Iain Evans and Mitch Williams.
- The committee will have power to send for persons, papers and records (ie call for witnesses to prepare submissions and appear) and to adjourn from place to place and to report on 1 November 2011.
- The report of the committee will be tabled on the 8th of November.
- The name of the Bill
- A request to appear as a witness in person before the committee
- A request to be informed about when and where the committee will hear from public witnesses
Notwithstanding the potential for the committee members to limit the number of witnesses who will appear, and the short time frame, this process is a tremendous opportunity to raise your concerns about the Olympic Dam Expansion project.
I strongly urge you to consider putting in a (brief) submission to the committee and request to appear before them to present your case in person. I also strongly urge you to send this request out through your networks to ensure as many people as possible are given the opportunity to seek an audience before the committee.
You will have to act very quickly as the committee will have to conclude public hearings in 10 days. Your submission does not need to be particularly detailed, and could be a direct cut and paste from your previous work on the EIS. However, it should include:
Your request should be directed to the Secretary of the committee: David Pegram: david.pegram@parliament.sa.gov.au
Any submission should also be sent to members of the committee (links above), and I would appreciate a copy as well.
Best wishes
Mark
Mark Parnell MLC
SA Parliamentary Leader
Australian Greens
parnell@parliament.sa.gov.au
