THE SENATE

P.R. NO. 85/138 CANBERRA 10 JULY 1985

LUCAS HEIGHTS NUCLEAR THREAT: DEMOCRATS

PRESS RELEASE

Senator Norm Sanders,  Australian Democrat Senator for Tasmania,   today added his support to the submission by the Sutherland Shire   Residents Group addressed to the Minister for Resources and   Energy,  Senator Gareth Evans.

"The Australian Democrats endorse the recommendations of the   submission," said Senator Sanders. "The nuclear repository at   Lucas Heights is the largest repository of radioactive waste   outside the 'major'  powers, and this is in a residential area.

"Not only is this a peril to the people of the surrounding   districts, but the discharge of radioactive wastes into the   Pacific from Lucas Heights is a clear and irresponsible   contradiction of Australia's stated support for a nuclear-free

Pacific.  .

Senator Sanders,  who is Australian Democrat Spokesperson on   Science and Technology,  called on the Minister to take positive   steps to take Australia out of the nuclear fuel and weapons   cycle. Recommendations of. the Sutherland Shire Residents Action   Group follow:

In reviewing the Atomic Energy Act and the repressive approved   Defence Projects Protection Act the opportunity presents itself   for the Government to redress the mistakes of the past.

1. We recommend that all nuclear activities should cease at   Lucas Heights, and that the two reactors Hifar and Moata should   be decommissioned.

2. The problems of the stored nuclear waste should be addressed   immediately. A national repository should be established to store   the large amount of low,, medium and high level waste stored on

site. The waste should be stored in a manner which presents the   least risk to workers, the public and the environment for all   time. 3. The large number of Spent fuel rods should be removed.  There   must be no possibility of the products of any reprocessing

procedure entering the weapons program of any nation.

4. The Little Forest burial ground because of its intrusion into   the residential area,  must be completely removed, with all   contaminated soil.

5. The discharging of radioactive waste into the Pacific Ocean   from Lucas Heights should cease. This practice contradicts   Australia's stated support for a nuclear free Pacific.

6. We support the recommendation of the NERDC Commi-ttee '79 ... 'That Lucas Heights (A.A.E.C.) be empowered to undertake . non-nuclear research and development, and in doing so strongly   emphasise the development of non-nuclear energy technology.' This   would improve job opportunities.

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7. We support the establishment of a National Cyclotron for the  production of medical isotopes, and the ownership and management  ÃÂ¿ÃÂ the cyclotron be given to an organisation such as Commonwealth  Serum Laboratories, and not to the A.A.E.C.

8. We recommend that all secrecy provisions associated with the  operation of A.A.E.C. be removed, and that the Commission must be  fully accountable to the Government and the people.

9. All punitive and repressive measures contained in the  legislation governing the operation of the Commission, should be  removed, as they relate to the staff and the public.

10. A retrospective health study should be carried out on residents living in the adjacent residential areas.  '

11. until these recommendations are carried out,  full liability  should be accepted by the Commonwealth for all compensation  claimed as a result of a nuclear accident, or routine discharges  from the Lucas Heights establishment.

12. The transport of spent fuel rods and other radioactive waste  from Lucas Heights, must be carried out with the least possible  risk, and where possible information be made available to the.  public. Liability for an accident during transportation should be

accepted by the Commonwealth.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SENATOR NORM SANDERS 002 23 5644

NICK GOLDIE .  002 23 5644 .

