Office of the Leader of the Opposition

STATEMENT BY BILL HAYDEN.,. MP

The Australian people have the right to know the truth  about what has been going on at Maralinga.

Since this matter again became one of controversy last  week, the Defence Minister has issued two statements.  Both were more concerned with attacking the press for  making the issue public. .

The Opposition does not accept the Minister's self-  righteous indignation as an alternative to disclosure of  all the facts. ’

What has been wrung from various official and unofficial  sources, however, about the storage of. radioactive waste  at Maralinga raises even more disturbing questions about  the conduct of the Australian Government.

We will seek to have these matters dealt with more  candidly in the Parliament this week.

I believe full and honest answers must be given to  questions such a s :  .

.  Does the plutonium buried at Maralinga  pose a terrorist threat?

.  Exactly how much plutonium is hurried at  Maralinga and in what form?

.  Is this plutonium secured to standards in  line with Australia's international  safeguards obligations?.

.  What, does the Government intend doing to dispose of the plutonium and other radio- '   active debris, and who will pay the cost?

.  Is the Australian Atomic Energy Commission  capable of measuring the quantity and  composition of the plutonium stored at  Maralinga?

.  What are the findings of the study by the

Australian Ionising Radiation Advisory Council  into the dispersal of radioactive waste at  Maralinga?

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Parliament H ouse, Canberra, A C  T. 2 6 0 0

.  Did the testing of nuclear weapons and/or  components continue at Maralinga into the  1960's?

.  Did any radioactive waste buried at Maralinga come from outside Australia? ,

.  Exactly what methods have been used to store  radioactive waste at Maralinga?

The Australian people cannot feel confident that proper  safety measures have been adopted,  or that effective,  security has been imposed.

There are grave doubts raised about the storage methods  used.

I am informed reliably that much of the radioactive waste  buried at Maralinga was put into plastic bags,  placed  inside tin cans, and then encased in concrete in 44-gallon  drums. .

I am advised the concrete was unprofessionally poured,  heightening the possibility of leakage of toxic waste  products. I also understand that in a number of instances,   contrary to official assurances,  toxic waste encased in

this way was hurried in no more than 12 feet of soil.

In the circumstances, I do not see how the Government can  avoid a full public inquiry into this whole affair.

CANBERRA-  October 9, 1978.

