Jj. A U S T R A L !  A,,J-

;  PRIME MINISTER

4 JUNE 1976

FOR PRESS .  -  .  F76/109

VISITS OF NUCLEAR POWERED WARSHIPS

I wish to inform the House that my Government has decided to.allow  the resumption of visits to Australian ports' by nuclear powered

warships. This decision has been made after a long and careful .

examination of the many aspects associated with this subject.

In furtherance of the objective of ensuring that matters affecting

the environment are fully.examined and taken into account,  the

Government has given very careful consideration to a classified draft

Environmental Impact Statement prepared by the Department of Defence.

However, in the opinion of .the Government it would be contrary to

the interests of Australia, for this document to be made available  publicly. .  .

Nevertheless, in order that maximum possible information consistent

with the interests of Australia, be made available to the public, Â·

a document entitled "Environmental Considerations of Visits of

Nuclear Powered Warships to Australia" dated. May. 1976 is attached to

this statement. .  .

The House will be aware that there have been a number of. visits in

the past by United States nuclear powered warships. In the interests

of our national security, the Australian Government attaches great  importance to the presence, in this area, under the ANZUS alliance,

of the United States Navy, which is increasingly converting to nuclear

powered warships. '

With well over one hundred naval reactors in operation, United States

nuclear powered warships have visited over thirty countries and

eighty five foreign ports. .

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Our decision follows consultations with the United States Government

on safety procedures and legal indemnity. In the latter connection,

the United States Congress in December. 1974 enacted a Law (Public Law

93-513) pursuant to which,  as was made clear by the Joint Congressional

Committee on.Atomic Energy,  the United States accepts absolute liabilit

for any nuclear damage which mightÂ· result from a nuclear incident

involving the reactor of a United States warship.

The Government is taking these decisions on the basis of international

experience with nuclear powered warships and in light of the

assessments in the unclassified Environmental document which I am

tabling. The Government accepts, the expert advice that the risk of

an incident resulting in a release of radio-activity is extremely

low and the hazard to human health and the environment is remote.

All necessary control and safety measures will be implemented  at the berths to be used. .  .

Those matters are dealt with in detail in the document "Environmental

Considerations of Visits of Nuclear Powered Warships to Australia".

I would also point to the remarkable safety record of United States

nuclear powered warships. .

There is further compelling reason why action is required in this

matter. About a third of the United States Navy is nuclear powered.

We have a military alliance with the United States through the ANZUS

Treaty. Under Article II of that Treaty, we have undertaken to act

separately and jointly to maintain and develop our individual and  collective capacity.... Unless nuclear powered ships are able to use

Australian ports, there will be no, prospects of Australia remaining

an adequate and reliable ANZUS partner. That is not a statement from

any American source - it is my own.

The ANZUS Treaty requires cooperation with the United States.

At the very least, that would require that the.United States be able

to replenish her ships and that we should provide such support as

we are able, not only in peace-time circumstances as a good ally,

but in any emergency that may arise in the future. The vital  character of our alliance with the United States and with ANZUS

require this action to be taken. -

'In:reaching a decision on the resumption of visits, the Government

has had the benefit of a very wide range of expert advice. Defence

and Australian Atomic Energy Commission scientists have participated

in the examinations and relevant matters have received consideration

by the Australian Ionising Radiation Advisory Council.

Appropriate arrangements concerning environmental safeguards will  be applied in consultation.with state.governments by a group of .

officials led by officials of the Department of Environment, Housing

and Community Development. Such arrangements will be.undertaken,

as necessary, before visits take place. Â·

I present the following paper: Â·

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  Visits of Nuclear Powered Warships .Â·

Ministerial Statement - June 1976. .

...oOo

