MEDIA RELEASE THE SENATE

PR 90/333  Canberra  August 8, 1990

COULTER i GOVERNMENT SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM PRO-NUCLEAR CONFERENCE

Senator John Coulter, Australian Democrat spokesperson on  Environment, today called on the Federal Government to withdraw  its support for a conference to promote nuclear energy to  Australian and regional media.

The conference will be held in Canberra on 27th and 28th of  August. It has been funded by the International Atomic Energy  Agency (IAEA), the Australian government, and the Australian  Mining Council (AMIC).  The organisers include the Department of

Primary Industries and Energy, the Department of Foreign Affairs  and Trade, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology  Organisation (ANSTO) and the Uranium Information Centre (on  behalf of AMIC).

"This conference is a carefully controlled propaganda exercise  designed to convince the media that nuclear power has a bright  future" Senator Coulter said.

"Indeed, that is a key part of IAEA's job. In 1983, the IAEA  distinguished itself by publishing an article, written by the  Director of Nuclear Safety, lauding the safety of the Soviet  Union's RBMK-1000 reactor design —  the design which failed so  tragically at Chernobyl.

"Almost all the conference speakers have a vested interest in  glossing over the massive problems faced by the industry in areas  such as plant safety, radiation hazards, waste disposal, reactor  decommissioning, safegurads and economic viability.

"Letters of invitation sent to media representatives have billed  the event as a 'public information seminar'  but it is not open  to the public.

"There is a wealth of high quality critical research on all  aspects of the nuclear industry, yet only one of the conference  sessions will be addressed by critics, and they were only  included after environmental organisations protested at the oneÂ­ sided nature of the event.

"It is outrageous that the Government has spent tax-payers' money  on this charade. Opinion polls show that Australians are opposed  to uranium mining, and even more so to the nuclear industry in  general" Senator Coulter concluded.

Further information: John Coulter 06.2773648 08.3330277  Richard Bolt 03.6143792

COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY  MICAH

