PRESS STATEMENTMINISTER FOR RESOURCES AND ENERGY  SENATOR GARETH EVANS Q.C. JOINT STATEMENT BY THE COMMONWEALTH MINISTER FOR RESOURCES  AND ENERGY, SENATOR GARETH EVANS, AND THE ADMINISTRATOR OF  MARALINGA TJARUTJA, MR ARCHIE BARTON

AGREEMENT ON ACCESS AND CONFIDENTIALITY FOR MARALINGA  TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT~GROUP ' (  TAG )'  STUDIES

The Commonwealth and the Aboriginal people of the Maralinga

Lands surrounding former British atomic test sites in South

Australia have agreed on conditions to allow access to those

lands by researchers involved in developing options relating to

the clean-up of the test sites.

The agreement, signed by Senator Evans during talks with

leaders and representatives of the Maralinga Aboriginal

community in Canberra this week,  is Designed to ensure that the

two year Technical Assessment Group study program does not

adversely impact on the traditional lifestyle of the Aboriginal  community. Under the agreement Maralinga Tjarutja, the statutory representative of the Maralinga people, gives its permission  for researchers to enter the Maralinga lands on conditions that  include - a ban on alcohol and firearms - a requirement that the researchers respect the cultural integrity and traditional practices of the Aboriginal community. 14 April 1987  28/-a/ v 2 The agreement also provides thac information given to the  researchers by the Aboriginal people in relation to their  traditional practices shall be treated as confidential and not  published without the express permission or the Aboriginal  community. "The Agreement is an important demonstration of the spirit of  cooperation between Maralinga Tjarutja and the Commonwealth  that is facilitating a detailed assessment or the extent of the  contamination problem at Maralinga, and t'he development of  practicable and cost effective options to effect a clean up"  Senator Evans said. Mr Barton said the Aboriginal community welcomed tne research  program and were satisfied with the efforts that the Government  was making towards developing clean up options. "We also welcome the Government's recognition of our position  as owners and occupiers of the Maralinga Lands" Mr Barton said. CANBERRA

community.

Under the agreement Maralinga Tjarutja, the statutory

representative of the Maralinga people, gives its permission

for researchers to enter the Maralinga lands on conditions that

include

- a ban on alcohol and firearms

- a requirement that the researchers respect the cultural

integrity and traditional practices of the Aboriginal

community.

14 April 1987  28/-a/

v

2

The agreement also provides thac information given to the

researchers by the Aboriginal people in relation to their

traditional practices shall be treated as confidential and not

published without the express permission or the Aboriginal

community.

"The Agreement is an important demonstration of the spirit of

cooperation between Maralinga Tjarutja and the Commonwealth

that is facilitating a detailed assessment or the extent of the

contamination problem at Maralinga, and t'he development of

practicable and cost effective options to effect a clean up"

Senator Evans said.

Mr Barton said the Aboriginal community welcomed tne research

program and were satisfied with the efforts that the Government

was making towards developing clean up options.

"We also welcome the Government's recognition of our position

as owners and occupiers of the Maralinga Lands" Mr Barton said.

CANBERRA

