Why does the Lynas dilemma remain unresolved?

LETTER | Despite all the years of concerns registered, the dilemma involving Australian rare-earth mining firm Lynas continues unresolved till this date.

Why?

The dangers of the waste product and the very questionable production at the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) is a "known known".

But the raging debate continues.

Meanwhile innocent, uninformed humans, flora and fauna remain victims of a potential future and mega disaster.

The company continues to defend its operations. It remains adamantly defensive of its safety standards and standard operating procedures.

The new government has commissioned and completed all its studies and investigations. And the findings are indeed so alarming.

The issue of ground water being contaminated with heavy and harmful metals beyond international (Dutch) standards would even frighten a sleeping bat.

But we citizens remain completely at the mercy of the federal and state government and the private company in question.

What does this Lynas dilemma tell us?

That there is a serious dichotomy between government intentions and policies caught in a political climate of fighting to remain relevant to the masses, versus a foreign company entwined with the local "who's who" venture that sees making profits as the sole motive. Period.

The company and the local partners will argue that jobs will be lost if the plant is booted out.

But the question that is too late to either ask or justify is why we opened our land in the first place to a business that is not even accepted in its country of origin, in so far as the industrial waste is concerned.

Is our desperation for jobs, profits and wanting to embrace developed nation status more important than the health and happiness of the citizens?

The Lynas dilemma will eventually weaken this country's future despite creating gainful employment, generating huge profits and making some people super rich.

In the meantime, citizens suffer.