MEDIAMINISTER FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND ENERGYJOHN KERIN M.P.CANBERRA RELEASEPIE88/097K 8 April 1988AUSTRALIA TO HOST CONFERENCE ON RADIATION PROTECTIONAn international conference on 'Radiation Protection in Nuclear Energy' will be held in Sydney over five days from Monday 18 April.The Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, Mr John Kerin, said today the conference would be convened by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at the invitation of the Australian Government.Mr Kerin said the invitation to convene a conference in Australia was issued in February 1985."The conference provides an opportunity for the international exchange of views on the principles of radiation protection, and is expected to highlight issues of current importance and explore the need for education and training in radiation protection," Mr Kerin said."It will be the first major IAEA conference to be held in Australia."The IAEA is a United Nations affiliated organisation based in Vienna, with a membership of 113 countries.Australia has been a member since the Agency was founded in 1957, and has represented South-East Asia and the Pacific on the Board of Governors ever since.Mr Kerin noted that the activities of the IAEA, including its nuclear safeguards regime, are of importance to Australia."Although there are no nuclear power stations in Australia, we are a producer of uranium and a provider of services in the fields of nuclear science and technology," Mr Kerin said."Accordingly, the Government places considerable importance on radiation protection in the uranium mining industry, and in other fields which utilise radioactive materials, including nuclear medicine."The mandate of the IAEA is to "accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world, and to establish standards of safety for the protection of health and minimisation of danger to life and property from any harmful effects of ionising radiation arising from nuclear activities".COMiviONWiVilj'H PARLIAMENTARY U rlW Y  C I S  -

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Mr Kerin said the conference would be attended by about 500  delegates from the Agency's 113 member countries.

The conference will be officially opened by Mr Kerin__and the  Director General of the IAEA, Dr Hans Blix, at the Sydney  Hilton International Hotel at 9.30am on Monday 18 April.

Further information: Don Gumming, DPIE PR, (062) 72 5051 (w) (062) 31 0876 (h)

Editor's note: All sessions of the conference will be open to the media, however journalists planning to attend are asked to  contact Don Gumming, DPIE PR, on (062) 72 5051, beforehand, so  that necessary arrangements can be made..

A news conference is planned for IAEA Director General, Dr Blix, on 18 April, following the opening.

