^fck PRESS STATEMENT ÃÂ  by the Minister for National Development and Energy . i,

Â«L. AUSTRALIA V ___ Â·  Â·Â·  ' / j.

81/10

INTERVIEV/S WITH'PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN FORMER ATOMIC TEST PROGRAM .

THE MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY, SENATOR THE

HON. J.L, GARRICK SAID TODAY THAT INTERVIEWS HAVE'BEEN HELD WITH SOME

OF THE AUSTRALIANS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE U.IiV ATOMIC WEAPONS TESTS

IN AUSTRALIA IN THE 1950s, WHO HAVE COME FORWARD IN RESPONSE TO THE

GOVERNMENT'S INVITATION ISSUED IN MAY 1980.Â·' .  Ã¢ÂÂ   .

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  "A NUMBER OF THE CIVILIANS AND SERVICE PERSONNEL WHO HAVE '

WRITTEN TO MY DEPARTMENT OFFERING INFORMATION, OR WHO ARE CONCERNED  ABOUT THEIR HEALTH, ARE BEING INVITED TO ATTEND INTERVIEWS.  FIRST HAKE

ACCOUNTS ARE BEING OBTAINED OF DUTIES CARRIED OUT IN CONNECTION WITH

THE RADIOLOGICAL SURVEYS CONDUCTED AFTER THE TESTS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

IN NON-RADIOACTIVE ENVIRONMENTS WHICH ARE ASSISTING THE GOVERNMENT'S '

INVESTIGATIONS . '  Ã¢ÂÂ

"THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE ALSO PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL ENQUIRERS WITH

INFORMATION ON THE POSSIBILITY OF THEIR EXPOSURE AS A RESULT OF THEIR

INVOLVEMENT IN THE TESTS,. BEARING IN MIND THE NATURE OF THEIR DUTIES

AND MOVEMENTS, AND THE RADIOLOGICAL SAFETY PROCEDURES WHICH APPLIED .

"OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,  AND THE DEPARTMENT OF

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY CONDUCTED A FIRST ROUND OF INTERVIEWS .

IN MELBOURNE,  SYDNEY AND ADELAIDE IN NOVEMBER 1980 Ã¢ÂÂ . .  '  "  .

"A SECOND ROUND OFÃ¢ÂÂ INTERVIEWS,  IN FEBRUARY/MARCH 1981, WILL

BE HELD IN EACH MAINLAND STATE CAPITAL .  -- '  '  Â·  '  -

.  "TO DATE 133 INDIVIDUALS HAVE COME FORWARD IN RESPONSE .'TO HY

PRESS STATEMENTS OF.15 MAY AND 3 JULY 1980. OF THESE 42 ARE MEMBERS

;  OF THE AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR VETERANSe  ASSOCIATION.

"OFFICIAL RECORDS ARE BEING CHECKED FOR DETAILS OF RADIOLOGICAL  SAFETY, PROCEDURES IN FORCE ON THE TEST SITES AND FOR EVIDENCE OF THE

OCCURRENCE OF RADIATION EXPOSURE TO THE PERSONNEL DIRECTLY INVOLVED.

INFORMATION ARISING FROM INDIVIDUAL.INTERVIEWS', MEDICAL REPORTS AND  OFFICIAL RECORDS WILL BE COLLATED FOR EVIDENCE OF RADIATION EXPOSURE

OF SPECIFIC GROUPS. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE REFERRED TO MINISTERS .

FOR CONSIDERATION OF FURTHER ACTION SUCH AS REFERENCE TO EXPERT

BODIES, PUBLIC ENQUIRY, OR FULL SCALE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY. Ã¢ÂÂ

V

I. . - 2 -

’  1 1  AS I STATED ON 15 MAY 1980 THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE SEEKING

THE EXPERT ADVICE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN IONISING RADIATION

ADVISORY COUNCIL (AIRAC) AND THE NATIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH

COUNCIL IN THESE MATTERS.  I HAVE ALREADY APPROACHED AIRAC, THROUGH

MY COLLEAGUE THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND ENVIRONMENT CONCERNING

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURE, DISTRIBUTION AND POTENTIAL HAZARD OF Â·  -

FALLOUT ARISING FROM THE ATOMIC TESTS.

Â·  Ã¢ÂÂ   Inquiries:  Mr I ,Morison"

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  .  '  .  (062) 73 1482 hone k

(062) 45 8553 '  of lie 4

CANBERRA Ã¢ÂÂ

23 February 1981

