Government must do the right  thing by Maralinga victims

Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear policy Senator Scott  Ludlam.  11 January 2013.

The Greens have called on the Government to ensure victims of the atomic  testing at Maralinga are properly compensated after a British court decision  overnight shattered hopes for justice.

Greens spokesperson for nuclear policy Senator Scott Ludlam said the hopes of  Australians exposed to nuclear testing in the 1950s were dealt a serious blow by  another UK court ruling against compensation.

“In 2010 the British courts ruled British veterans who participated in nuclear tests  in Australia could not sue the Defence Ministry because they could not prove  their illnesses were caused by exposure to radiation.  Now, Aboriginal people  exposed to the same toxic tests have been told their legal fight is over for the  same reason.

“Foreign Minister Bob Carr should be on the phone urging the British  Government to deal directly with the victims - outside of court - and compensate  them appropriately with an act of grace payment.”

Senator Ludlam said the victims have said the exposure caused cancer, birth  defects amongst their children, and other disorders such as anaemia.

“There is no doubt these people were exposed to dangerously high levels of  radiation and there is no doubt many of them have suffered greatly, but it is  almost impossible to prove concretely that the testing more than 50 years ago  caused their illnesses and the illnesses of their children.



"The British Government detonated atomic bombs in this country and should  take responsibility for the consequences.  People should need only to prove that  they were exposed to high levels of radiation as a result of the weapons testing in  order to get compensation," he said.



Media contact:  Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302

