MEDIA RELEASE BY HON. LES JOHNSON, MHR FOR HUGHES,  OPPOSITION WHIP.

2 BOYLE STREET, SUTHERLAND, 223 2______PHONE: 521-6262 12.2.80.

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NO FAST BREEDER REACTflR FOR A.A.E.C.:

MR. LES JOHNSON, MHR FOR HUGHES, HAS MINISTERIAL ASSURANCE THAT

NEITHER THE GOVERNMENT NOR THE A.A.E.C. IS GIVING CONSIDERATION

TO THE SELECTION OF ANY FAST BREEDER REACTOR IN THE DESIGN COST STUDY

CURRENTLY BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE AUSTRALIAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION.

MR. JOHNSON SAID THAT IN RELATION TO HIS SPECIFIC ENQUIRIES HE WAS

ADVISED THAT ONLY "SWIMMING POOL" TYPE REACTORS ARE BEING CONSIDERED

IN THE DESIGN COST STUDY FOR A NEW ISOTOPE PRODUCTION AND RESEARCH

REACTBR TO REPLACE THE EXISTING HIFAR REACTOR AT LUCAS HEIGHTS.

THE COOLANT FOR ALL TYPES BEING CONSIDERED IS LIGHT WATER.

MR. JOHNSON SAID THAT THE DESIGN COST STUDY IS EXPECTED TO BE

COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE NEW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & ENERGY, SENATOR

CARRICK, HAS INDICATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE EXAMINING THE DESIGN

COST STUDY REPORT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE REPORT ISSUED BY THE

NATIONAL ENERGY RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION COUNCIL

WHICH HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE HIFAR REACTOR NOT BE REPLACED BUT

BE REFURBISHED TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE RESEARCH AND IRRADIATION

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  SERVICE UNTIL 1990.

MR. JOHNSON REITERATED THAT NO GOVERNMENT DECISION ON THE PROPOSALS

SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT HAS BEEN

MADE AND WITHOUT AN OPPORTUNITY BEING GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC TO ASSESS

AND MAKE SUBMISSIONS. .

"THE PREVIOUS MINISTER FOR. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MR. NEWMAN, HAS

GIVEN THIS ASSURANCE TO THE PARLIAMENT" MR. JOHNSON ADDED.

