One hundred people joined a Maritime Union of Australia (MUA)-initiated protest against the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste dump on July 12 at Stokes Hill Wharf.

MUA NT branch manager Thomas Mayor said wharfies would stand in solidarity with traditional owners who opposed the dump. The protest was held at Stokes Hill Wharf because waste would likely be shipped through the port if the waste dump goes ahead. Mayor said that the waste presented an unacceptable risk.

The protest was organised as joint initiative between unions and traditional owners, who said that Muckaty station was chosen as the site of the dump because of the perceived inability of the local people to resist the dump.

Traditional owners Bunny Nabarulla and Lorna Fejo said that they would block the highway to stop the dump.

Nat Wasley from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative and Cat Beaton from Anti-Nuclear NT also spoke at the rally. Wasley said that resources minister Martin Ferguson had chosen the site because the government thought it was “miles from civilization” and thought no one would fight it.

“I’ve got news for you, Ferguson,” Wasley said. “These people know how to fight.”