Independent MLA Gerry Wood says he has been silenced by the Senate Committee examining a proposed nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory.
Mr Wood says he was told he cannot speak at today’s hearing in Darwin because he failed to supply a written submission.
He says he made oral submissions at both the Canberra and Alice Springs hearings and was not previously required to register in writing.
“It just appears to me as though this inquiry has decided to invite a select number of people and silence anyone else that really wants to speak,” he said.
He believes he’s been barred from participating in Darwin because he disagreed with Senator Crossin at previous hearings.
“I would have thought that for the benefit of giving more than one side of the story it would have been good to hear another point of view,” he said.
Senator Trish Crossin says all speakers are required to make their intentions known to the Committee.
“We have no submission from Gerry Wood,” she said.
“Certainly not had a phone call from him and so it is not possible for a Senate Committee to plan and conduct its work if we don’t hear from potential witnesses.”
Traditional owners of the site proposed for a nuclear waste dump near Tennant Creek are today expected to tell the Senate Inquiry that their opposition was ignored when the site was nominated.
Elders from each of the five families from Muckaty Station will attend the inquiry, which will examine the suitability of the site, which was nominated by the Northern Land Council.
A spokeswoman for the group, Dianne Stokes, says she will reaffirm her people’s claim to the land.
“I’m coming here to reply to all the information … talk back to these people to what they said at the Senate Inquiry meeting up in Canberra,” she said.
“I want to tell them what I heard, it’s not true.”
Victoria Police officers’ emails too “racist and offensive” to be released, Police chief admits
Melbourne, Mar 25(ANI): Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland has said the series of offensive emails shared among the state’s police officers are too “racist and offensive” to be released publicly.
According to reports, at least 100 officers could face the sack for these emails, which are said to contain racist, homophobic and pornographic content.
Overland did not confirm details of the emails, but said some were “extremely serious, and offensive”.
“We’re not talking about one item, we””re talking about multiple items,” News.com.au quoted Overland, as having told ABC Radio.
He also refused to confirm if the emails contained racist comments against Indian or African citizens, against whom there have been a string of racist attacks in the recent months.
“I””m not going to describe exactly the nature of the material in question. If the Victorian public were aware of the nature of that material, I believe that it””s of such a nature that it would cause significant concern within the Victorian community,” Overland said.
He further said some of the emails raise “real questions about a number of individuals’ suitability to continue with Victoria Police”.
The police chief also informed that the ethical standards department has been using computer experts to track the email.
Two officers have already been given a “Section 68”, whereby Overland notifies the officers that he has lost confidence in them and they must show cause why they should not be dismissed. (ANI)