PRESS RELEASE FROM STEWART WEST, SHADOW MINISTER ENVIRONMENT Â£ CONSERVATION

5 March 1981 $

Within years France could be returning Ben Lomond uranium to North  Queensland in the form of radioactive fallout from its nuclear tests.

The Charters Towers Mining Wardens court this week is expected to  decide whether to approve the wholly-owned French company, Minatome's ,   plans to mine uranium at Ben Lomond. .

France has a bad record regarding the nuclear industry with  aggressive nuclear power^and atomic weapons policies.

Australia’s support for limiting nuclear weapons is no longer credible  in the light of the reprocessing agreement with France,  the acknowledged  world leader in fast breeder technology.

Following disturbing statistics on radiation levels in milk and water  in northern Australia as the result of fallout from France's nuclear  testing in the Pacific, Australia took the matter to the International  Court of Justice. The court found France contravened international

justice principles but the French Government refused to recognise  the court's decision.

France has refused to sign the nuclear non proliferation treaty,  an d  stated it would still refuse even if it lost Australian uranium.

Minatome is owned by Pechiney and Total Oil, which in turn is owned  20% by the French Government.

This is not the sort of company we want in Australia, with a bad environmental history in its own country and backed by a Government with a proven disregard for Australians' health and safety.

There is no suggestion in the company's Ben Lomond proposals that it  intends to change.

We must stop this type of compnay,  and the dangers of uranium mining  becoming a never-ending nightmare.

2

Given the extremely limited employment opportunities offered by such  a mine, the health hazards associated with it, and the  environmental dangers,  there can be no justification for the mine.

There is an urgent need to implement Labor policies on uranium  which include the banning of uranium mining and exports until safe  waste disposal methods are found and adequate safeguards met to prevent  the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Townsville Regional Conservation Council co-ordinator Adrian Jeffreys  has objected to the mine on the grounds it is not in the public interest  and wastes from the mine will be detrimental to the environment.

His evidence is being heard by the Charters Towers Mining Wardens  court this week,  the first time the uranium issue has been given such  a hearing in Queensland, and possibly Australia.

After the hearing,  which is expected to end.this week, the Warden, Mr E.W. Lendich, will make a recommendation to the State Minister  for Mines.

In the unlikely event of the warden deciding against the proposal,  however,  the Queensland Minister can override his recommendation.

However, last year the then Federal Minister for Environment  Mr Ellicott, called for an Environmental Impact Statement on the  proposal.  This will have to be accepted by the Federal Government  before export licenses will be granted.  _

Telecom workers in Townsville already have deci. ded not to service  Minatome equipment.

I hopeother unions take similar action, and prevent the proposal '   becoming a dangerous reality.

Canberra 5 March: 19 81 .

