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PARLIAMENT HOUSE

CANBERRA, A.C.T. 2600

PRESS RELEASE MO. 2

ENVIRONMENT INQUIRY ON URANIUM DEVELOPMENT  IN THE .NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Minister for Environment,  Mr. J. Berinson, today  said that the inquiry into the uranium development in the > :   Northern Territory being undertaken by the Australian Atomic r  Energy Commission and Ranger Uranium Mines Ltd., as previously.'  announced by Dr. Cass, had been amplified and strengthened.

A new direction had been given to the Commission . . .

to inquire into all the environmental aspects of - .

(a) the formulation of proposals;

(b) the carrying out of works and other projects; "

(c) the negotiation, operation and enforcement of  agreements and arrangements;

( d )  Ã¢ÂÂ   the making of, or the participation in the making .  -  of, decisions and recommendations; and ;

(e) the incurring of expenditure, by, or on behalf of, the Australian Government and the  Australian Atomic Energy Commission and other authorities  of Australia for and in relation to the development by the '   Australian Atomic Energy Commission in association with  Ranger Uranium Mines Pty. Ltd of uranium deposits in the  Northern Territory of Australia. .

This direction was promulgated by the Prime Minister as  Minister for Environment on 12th July.

Mr. Berinson said that,  in addition to the new direction  the Commission had been re-constituted and he was pleased to  announce that The Honourable Mr. Justice Fox had agreed to .   preside over the inquiry. The other two commissioners would  be Mr. G. Kelleher, Hearing Commissioner with the Department

of Environment and Professor Charles Kerr, Professor of  Preventive and Social Medicine, School of Public Health'and  Tropical Medicine, University of SydneyÃ¢ÂÂ ’  ’  '

The Minister said that he thought the wide talents’of the  Commissioners would ensure that this complex environmental issue  .  was thoroughly canvassed and that their report, when received  was bound to be of great assistance to the Government. Mr.

Justice Fox would announce the hearing arrangements in the  near future.

