NEWS RELEASE 25 MAY, 1978

FROM LES JOHNSON, MHR FOR HUGHES, OPPOSITION WHIP

Mr Les Johnson,  MHR for Hughes,  Federal Opposition Whip,

is highly critical of the Government's failure to formulate

and publish adequate safety plans designed to protect

workers and residents at Lucas Heights in the event of an

accident at the Nuclear Research Establishment.

"For over twelve months I have consistently asked the

government to provide details of the plans to the Parliament

and to the employees and residents of the area" Mr Johnson

said.

"To date only the most superficial answers have been

received."

"In answer to a question on notice this week,  the Minister

stated that the procedures designed to protect residents

in surrounding areas including allerting the relevant

emergency organisations and taking the relevant counterÂ­

measures depending on the nature of the accident.  In view

of the location of the nuclear research establishment and

the difficulties caused by the limited road access to and

from it by the Heathcote Road and Menai Road,  it is

essential that emergency procedures are kndwn and residents

are drilled in what to do if certain accidents occur"

Mr Johnson said.

"Any contingency plan is not worth its salt if only a

few people know about it" he added.'

"The responsibility for plans for the protection of

persons and property in the Lucas Heights area and

their co-ordination rests with the Australian Atomic Energy

Commission which claims to have arrangements with the

New South Wales authorities for the application of

appropriate counter-measures in case of accident including

2 .

evacuation as a last resort."

Mr Johnson said that as the AAEC is a Federal body,

the Federal Government cannot fob off its responsibilities

in this w a y .

"In any event Serious doubt exists as to whether the

over-taxed regional fire services,  police,  hospital authorities

and limited state emergency services could cope with an

accident.

Mr Johnson said that it is quite clear that existing

arrangements are unsatisfactory even for the low power Ã¢ÂÂ

nuclear reactors operating at Lucas Heights let alone

for any new reactor plant.

The government has indicated that it has authorised the

AAEC to commence a design cost study for a new isotope

production and research reactor to replace the Hifar

reactor (which is not to be decommissioned).

Mr Johnson said that the government should before

embarking on this design cost study determine whether

it is advisable to increase the nuclear capacity of a

research establishment stationed in Sydney, the city

with the largest population in Australia.

"The government would do better to authorise an

environmental impact statement and institute public

hearings before proceeding with a design cost study."

"It may well be more appropriate for a new nuclear

reactor not to be built at Lucas Heights."

