NO .  13 BROADCAST TALK

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3y the Deputy Prime Minister,  Minister for National Resources   and Minister for Overseas Trade,  the Rt Hon. J.D. Anthony, M.P.

All sorts of confusing and misleading arguments are ' Ã¢ÂÂ

being thrown into the Uranium Debate. The Deputy Leader of

the Opposition,  Mr. U r e n , is on the job as usual dragging

red-herrings across the uranium trail.

Â·  He is now saying that the Atomic Energy Act contains

serious implications for workers, trade unions and the general

public for uranium mining at Ranger. Mr. Uren says the Act

contains extremely repressive provisions. . . .

The';  Fox Inquiry recommended strict regulations and

control for the mining of uranium. The Act has been there

since 1953, when it was introduced with the support of the '

Labor Party.  It has governed the mining of uranium since 1954,

when Australia first mined it. The Act was also there w h e n '

Mr. Uren *  s leader,  Mr..  whitlam, decided to proceed with the

Ranger project under a Memorandum of Understanding between ....

the Whitlam Government and Peko/EZ - an agreement based on

the. A.tomic Energy A c t .  Â· '  .  Â·  Â·

The Atomic Energy Act was strongly supported by

the Whit lam Government when it was in -.office.  It formed

the basis for the large-scale development of uranium which the

Whitlam Government got under way when :in office.  The late

Mr. Connor said in 1974 that all future exploration in the

Northern Territory would be carried out exclusively b y '  .  .

the Government through “he Atomic Energy Commission, as provided

in the Atomic Energy Act'. Ã¢ÂÂ   .  '

in 1974

Mr.Â· Uren is at odds with his Government's decision

He is, in fact,  refuting what his Government d i d .then.

Mr. Uren is a member of a. Party which wants aÂ· moratorium

on the mining and export of uranium mainly on the grounds of ,

better safeguards.  His leader, Mr. Whitlam, also seems to be

saying that safeguards are not strongvenough.  Mr. Uren is now

saying that the Atomic Energy Act is too strict.

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.  The Government considers that the Atomic Energy

Act of 1953 provides an appropriate basis for mining operations

at Ranger in accordance with the agreements concluded between . . .

the companies and the Whitlam Government in 1974 and 1975.

We don't see any reason to alter that. '

Uranium is a material with important characteristics

if misused or illicitly ..diverted, raising important issues.of

national and international security..

Uranium requires very strict oversight and .

surveillance - it's only right and proper that strong federal ; Â·

legislation govern the development, handling and use of uranium.

There are no grounds at all that the Atomic Energy Â·

Act should not be used as part of the Government's safeguards.

As I said, Mr. Uren himself has been calling for adequate Ã¢ÂÂ   Ã¢ÂÂ

safeguards, so too has Mr. Whitlam. Australians would want

nothing less. '  .  '  '

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  Â·  >

T h e  F o x  R e p o r t  h a d  e x p r e s s e d  s o m e  r e s e r v a t i o n s  a b o u t

u s i n g  t h e  A t o m i c  E n e r g y  Act- f o r  t h e  i s s u e  o f  m i n i n g  t i t l e  a n d  .

e x p r e s s e d  t h e  v i e w  t h a t  o r d i n a r y  m i n i n g  l a w  m i g h t  b e  m o r e

a p p r o p r i a t e .  H o w e v e r ,  t h e  F o x  I n q u i r y  s a i d  i t s  r e s e r v a t i o n s

a b o u t  t h e  A t o m i c  E n e r g y  A c t  as a m i n i n g  l a w  w o u l d  h a v e  l ess

f o r c e  if t h e  U r a n i u m  A d v i s o r y  C o u n c i l  r e c o m m e n d a t i o n  o f  t h e

I n q u i r y  w a s  a d o p t e d .  Ã¢ÂÂ

I h a v e  p r e v i o u s l y  s t a t e d  t h a t  t h e  G o v e r n m e n t  w i l l

a d o p t  t h a t  r e c o m m e n d a t i o n  of t h e  R a n g e r  Inquiry, a n d  e s t a b l i s h

a U r a n i u m  A d v i s o r y  C o u n c i l .

Mr. U r e n  h a s  o b v i o u s l y  d e c i d e d  t o i g n o r e  a l l  t h is. "

H e  h a s  i g n o r e d  h i s  G o v e r n m e n t ' s  a c t i o n s  i n 1 9 7 4  u n d e r  t h e

s a m e  Act. He  s e e m s  t o  s u g g e s t  that' w e  s h o u l d  h a v e  l e s s

smringertt m e a s u r e s  f o r  r e g u l a t i o n  a n d  c o n t r o l  o f  u r a n i u m

d e v e l o p m e n t .  ./

5 t h  S e p t e m b e r  f 197 7 Â·  '

