NT govt urged to explain strandings
The Northern Territory opposition is calling for an investigation into claims the territory government left sick and elderly Aborigines at a remote outstation without food or water.
The Northern Land Council (NLC) lambasted the government over the alleged incident in a letter, sent to the chief minister over a month ago and obtained by the ABC.
It claimed an electorate officer for the Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Indigenous Affairs, Elliot McAdam, transported the traditional owners to Muckaty Station for a meeting with commonwealth representatives over plans for a nuclear waste dump.
But the letter said they were left at the remote location on March 7, about 120km north of Tennant Creek, without food, shelter, medication or a return trip home.
Mr McAdam denied Wednesday the group was left stranded, saying his office was approached by the traditional owners for help getting there and the NLC - which represents Aboriginal people - was informed they were coming.
"There were some concerns about the fact that the meeting was not well-publicised and of course TO's (traditional owners) came to my office and requested that we assist them," he told the ABC.
"Food was provided out there at Muckaty (and) ... transportation was arranged in respect to the return of those people at the conclusion of the meeting."
But the NT opposition is calling on Chief Minister Clare Martin to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations.
"The minister's office was guilty of the reprehensible action of leaving elderly and infirm Aboriginal women - some being diabetic and insulin dependent, or having heart conditions - on a remote station during hot and wet weather without food, water, shelter, transport or medication," Deputy Opposition Leader Terry Mills said.
"Such disturbing allegations of misconduct made against the office of a minister of the territory government demand an independent investigation."
Mr McAdam said the locals did not want a nuclear waste dump and deserved to be at the meeting.
"I just want to make it very clear that traditional owners, and indeed very large numbers of people throughout the Barkly region, are totally opposed to a nuclear waste site at Muckaty and I will do, without fear or favour, everything I can to ensure that constituents in my electorate are catered for," he said.
In a letter sent to the federal government earlier this year, a group of 16 traditional owners representing five family groups from the Muckaty region, called on the Commonwealth to stop negotiating with the NLC because it was leaving them out of the consultation process.
Their land is one of three sites being considered by the federal government for a repository to store low and medium-level radioactive waste.
Other options include Harts Range and Mt Everard, near Alice Springs, and Fishers Ridge near Katherine, all of which are opposed by the NT government
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