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A. AUSTRALIA,.,

PRESS STATEMENT by the Minister for National Development and Energy 81/72

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NUCLEAR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AT LUCAS HEIGHTS - VISIT  BY SENATOR J.L. CARRICK, MINISTER FOR NATIONAL  DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY

The Minister for National Development and Energy said today

that the Government's decision to bring together AAEC and

CSIRO scientists at Lucas Heights Research Laboratories Â·   promised benefits to the nation and satisfying career -  _

opportunities for staff.  .

Senator Garrick's comments followed a visit to the Laboratories

where he met the Australian Atomic Energy Commission and  addressed members of staff. The Minister discussed changes  agreed by the Commission consequent to the new arrangements

for Government energy research announced on 30 April 1981,

especially the retention of a first class nuclear research  establishment at Lucas Heights. .  .

Senator Garrick said that the primary emphasis of the AAEC's

activities in future should be on research and development in

nuclear science and technology.  The new CSIRO Institute of  Energy and Earth Resources would concentrate on non-nuclear

energy research and development and would share laboratories

and facilities at Lucas Heights. .

The AAEC, he said, would Continue to undertake R&D in nuclear

energy, particularly in relation to uranium mining, processing

and enrichment. The AAEC would continue its present significant  program in environmental science especially as related to the

uranium industry,  as well as further development of methods and

processes for the stabilisation and management of radioactive

wastes arising from the nuclear fuel cycle.

In nuclear science, the Minister said, the AAEC would continue

programs in the fields of nuclear physics, materials, and

medicine, as well as practical applications of radioisotopes  and nuclear techniques for industry, medicine and research.

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Senator Garrick emphasised the need for the AAEG to retain

sufficient competence in nuclear technology to support the

operation of the high flux nuclear reactor .(HIFAR)  at Lucas

Heights as well as to continue a small program in nuclear

fusion. He pointed out that the continued operation of HIFAR

not only ensured the supply of high specific.activity, shortÂ­

lived radioisotopes for industry, medicine and research, but

that the intensive source of neutrons generated by HIFAR offered  the opportunity for Australian scientists to undertake a range  of research activities not otherwise possible without .  .

this facility.  .

The AAEC1s technical advisory role in relation to nuclear power,  the nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear science and technology

generally will continue, Senator Garrick said, not as a separate

function but as a supplementary and subordinate activity to the  research work. However,  it is important, he added, that the

Government continue to have ready access to technical advice

in nuclear matters generally, a primary source of such advice  being the AAEC.

Sydney

3 December 1981

Enquiries: John Carlson Canberra - 458219 Len Keher Sydney - 543 0111

