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OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE CRITICAL FACILITY AT THE  ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, LUCAS HEIGHTS,  SYDNEY

Speech by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. William McMahon,  “* 6  !  CH, MP '  '  '  '

19 JUNE 1972

Twelve years ago, my distinguished friend and  colleague,  Sir Robert Menzies, spoke here on a similar occasion. And he said he believed Lucas Heights was a significant event in  our national development. And he went on to forecast that this  establishment would produce many practical results for Australia.

Sir Robert was, of course,  referring particularly to the role of  Lucas Heights in developing the technical experience we will need  when the time comes for Australia to embark on a commercial  nuclear power programme. x

It is pretty well accepted now that by the end of  the seventies,  one or more of our State generating authorities  will be building a nuclear power plant. Thereafter, more will  follow. It is not too much to say that if events develop as

predicted, Australia could be involved in a very large capital  investment in nuclear power plants before the end of the century.

Many of you are well aware of how essential it will  be that we go into such a programme equipped with sound technical  advice about the efficiency and safety of reactors and other.   nuclear facilities. "

This critical facility is, I am told, a powerful tool  for making studies directly related to this objective.  The machine  was built by a French engineering firm, working with Australian  industry and the Commission’s scientists and engineers.

Our recent agreement with Japan will also be important  to our understanding of the future application of atomic energy  for peaceful purposes. We also co-operate with the United Kingdom  the United States and Canada.

It will be seen, therefore, that the leading nations  of the world in the extraordinarily complex field of nuclear  energy have been willing to share the benefits of their work with  us.

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We occupy a seat on the Board of Governors of the  International Atomic Energy Agency as the nation most advanced in  atomic energy in the South-East Asia and the Pacific region. But  we do not have the technical nor financial resources even to attempt

to take a place in the forefront of nuclear reactor development,   and if I may be allowed to emphasise it here,  today,  there is no  reason why we should seek to do so.

But we do make our contribution to the pool of  atomic energy knowledge,  and we do help our Asian and Pacific  neighbours through the loan of technical experts and equipment. We  also receive Agency and Colombo Plan fellows for training and  experience in nuclear matters.

This new facility will both contribute to our  objectives and extend our ability to collaborate with other  countries.  For these reasons I am glad to have the opportunity  to open it today.

My colleague, Sir Reginald Swartz, has already  reminded us of the benefits which are flowing to the community from  this centre. In the years to come, nuclear energy will help ease  our power problems.

Most industrially advanced countries are now  either building nuclear power stations,  or preparing to do so. More than 100 plants are already in service and about twice as  many are being built or are on order. .

We can expect nuclear power in the 1930’s and  9.0's to account for an increasing proportion of Australia's new  generating capacity. On a per capita basis,  we have one of the  fastest rising power demands in the world. One estimate that has  been given to me is that by the end of this century, one-third of  our electricity could come from nuclear stations.  It is claimed  that by that time more than 50 per cent of the world's electricity  could be so supplied.

Such predictions have major implications in such  diverse fields as foreign affairs,  finance,  industry and commerce.  Within the Atomic Energy Commission, we have the experts to advise  on all technical aspects of nuclear power. They have done wide-

ranging research into all aspects of the control of radiation from  nuclear installations. And over a long period,  they have made  close and careful investigations of possible effects on the environÂ­ ment, including on marine life,  and on flora and fauna.

But uranium is not only an industrial material. It  is a strategic material of high importance that involves the CommonÂ­  wealth in certain obligations. Every country in the world which  produces or uses fissile material imposes Government control for

considerations of national security p  and to honour international  obligations,  Australia must do likewise.

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Before our first power station is built,  there  must be a necessary framework of regulations and administrative  practices to provide such controls. We are working constructively  with the States to achieve these objectives. There can be no

better means of ensuring that nuclear power will be introduced to  Australia on a safe, economic and responsible basis.

It is clear from what I have said that Australia's  role in nuclear energy is concerned with its peaceful uses. The  harnessing of this great force of energy for the benefit of mankind  is one of the greatest challenges of this generation.

The task is twofold: We must learn to use the technology in peaceful pursuits, and we must contain and eventually  dissuage its potential uses for warfare and destruction.

It is difficult for some people to accept that in  the modern world - even in cases where there arise differences on  certain major issues - there can still be co-operation on others.  For example, the United States and the Soviet Union hold basic  differences on many great international issues. Yet President  Nixon and Mr Brezhnev were able last month to make a major step

forward in the vital field of world disarmament. "

They have slowed down the nuclear arms race,  and  they have done it in the context of maintaining a balance of  strategic interests. I sent a message of warm congratulation to  Mr Nixon for this achievement. .

I would like to go back a little on Australia's  record in these matters, because this is an area in which I very  sincerely regret to say that France has failed to respond, despite  our co-operation in other areas.

Many years ago, in 1963, a partial nuclear test  ban treaty was concluded. Australia took its stand when it ratified  that treaty. It specifically bans tests in the atmosphere, outer  space and under water. It is unmistakeably clear that our present  attitude is not a new one.

Our attitude at the Plenary Session at Stockholm  was in accordance with long-existing policy. When the Australian  Government ratified the partial test ban treaty, it was strongly  opposed to the conduct of tests of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere,  wherever they occurred. This remains our strong policy. It is

therefore completely wrong to say that a new policy was developed  at Stockholm.

In line with our long-standing policy, we have  repeatedly conveyed to the French Government, as you, Your  Excellency, have repeated and confirmed, through the proper channels  and in the most unequivocal terms, the firm opposition of the_  Australian Government and people to the French nuclear tests in

the Pacific.

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,  Australia was the first country to protest against  these tests in 1972. And we have repeated those protests. We  will continue to do so, by whatever means are properly avaiable to  us to exert whatever pressures we can to bring about a cessation  of these tests and all atmospheric nuclear tests for all time.

The Austialian Government is dedicated to upholding  the partial nuclear test ban treaty. That is our policy;  it has  not changed. We will continue to work within the framework of  international negotiation and consultation with the United States  and others so vitally concerned with the difficult technical issues  underlying questions of world peace, including a more comprehensive

treaty.

.  But central to our policy is a clear and frank

unqualified opposition to atmospheric testing. Let there be no  misunderstanding on this score. I and my Government want the  present tests abandoned.

Further, we have taken every reasonable step we  can to persuade our French friends to cease them. You will be  aware, Mr Ambassador,that I have already conveyed personally to  the President of France the views that I have now expressed.

And I want to confirm to you that none of the  explanations you have given would in any way,  in any shape at  all, change my, or my Government's attitude, or the Australian  people's attitude, to the atmospheric testing by any country.  And I say this, notwithdranding the comments you have made about

the protests that have been made by my Government to your  Government itself.

This Facility I am opening today is, I emphasise,   designed for peaceful purposes.  It will assist our researchers  to develop, in co-operation with the States,  our capacity to use  nuclear energy for the generation of electric power. -

So I am glad to have the opportunity of officially  opening this Facility,  and at the same time to be able to set out  the Government's reasons for building it. It will undoubtedly be  .  an essential tool for our research workers, and I have now much

pleasure in declaring it open.

