Atomic testing compensation long overdue

The Australian Greens have released a compensation plan for ADF veterans and atomic test  survivors for the health impacts and displacement caused by the British Atomic Weapons tests in  Australia.

The Nuclear Veterans package will deliver compensation to nuclear test ADF veterans through  the Veterans Gold Card costing $20million a year and an additional $110million for an Atomic  Survivors health care card to people demonstrating ongoing health impacts from the nuclear tests  in effected communities.

Nuclear Spokesperson and Co-Deputy Leader for the Australian Greens, Senator for WA Scott  Ludlam said it was time Australia acknowledged the long term consequences of the British  Atomic tests to Australian communities.

“Successive Australian Governments ignored the humanitarian consequences of the British  a  tomic weapons tests.  It is now time for Australia to acknowledge the devastating health impacts

suff

ered by ADF veterans and provide immediate health support from radiation fallout. Many  Aboriginal people were also poisoned and forced off their traditional country,” he said.

The Australian Greens also backed calls for Australia to support renewed international moves to  abolish nuclear weapons through the UN General Assembly.

“On the occasion of President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima, we commit to changing Australia’s  dismal recent record on disarmament, which saw our representatives vote against a UN General  Assembly resolution on disarmament,” said Mr Ludlam.

“Australia has an international opportunity to join with 138 other countries who are calling for a  global treaty to ban nuclear weapons.

“Both the Labor and Liberal parties continue to rely on nuclear deterrence as part of Australia’s  defence strategy - the idea that the threat of nuclear war is enough to dissuade anyone from  launc

hing a nuclear attack.

“



This is risky because it means always electing or being governed by rational people, relies on  there never being an accident, and relies on nuclear weapons always remaining in the hands of  ‘rational’ state actors for whom deterrence holds strategic importance. Anyone watching the US  Republican Primaries will understand how reckless these assumptions have become.

“The risks are real and the consequences are catastrophic. The best protection against nuclear  war is eliminating nuclear weapons.”

The Australi



an Green policy to address the impact of nuclear weapons testing on communities in  Australia includes:

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Media contact: Sarah Quinton 0408 533 877

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