Senator Lyn Allison Australian Democrats Nuclear Issues Spokesperson

19 January 2002    MEDIA RELEASE  02/011

www.democrats.org.au

Embargoed until 1:00AM (Eastern Australian daylight saving Time) Sunday 20 January 2002

Nuclear vets deserve better, Democrats tell Paris conference The  Nuclear  Veterans  Test  Conference  in  Paris  has  been  told  the  Australian  Government should  support  claims  for  compensation  from  veterans  used  as  guinea  pigs  in  the  1950s atomic tests and Britain should provide funding.

Australian Democrats’ Nuclear Issues spokesperson, Senator Lyn Allison, made the call for Britain to face up to its responsibilities today in France at a speech marking 2002, the 50th Anniversary year of the first test.

Britain has so far only paid half the cost of the botched and inadequate clean up.

Senator  Allison  said,  “The  Australian  Government  must  reinvent  itself  as  an  advocate  for  its servicemen and the civilians affected by the British tests instead of fighting them in the courts.

“And Britain must pay its dues - there is no justification for Australia to bear the pain and the contamination as well as the costs.”

Senator  Allison  said  the  sacrifices  made  by Australia  in  the  name  of  loyalty to  its  British motherland fell heavily on servicemen, civilians and Indigenous people.

“It  is  time  to  reward  that  loyalty  by  declaring  duty  at  nuclear  tests  to  be  hazardous  -  all documents must now be released for public scrutiny.”

Senator  Allison  repeated  her  call  for  survivors  to  be  given  radiobiological  blood  tests immediately and compensation paid on the basis of their radiation exposure, their illnesses and the damage they have passed on to their children.

Senator Allison said, “The Australian experience of the British nuclear tests has been one of serious  mistakes  and  cover-ups  at  the  highest  level  of  government.   The  safety  of Australians proved less important than the race to develop an arsenal of nuclear weapons.

Around  17,000  Australian  servicemen  and  civilians  took  part  in  nuclear  tests  in  Australia between 1952 and 1958 at Maralinga and Emu Field in South Australia and the Monte Bello Islands.

Contacts:  John Derry     0408 056 167     copies of speech available Senator Lyn Allison 0407 691 512

