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FOR PRESS DEFENCE P. R. No.102/66

Wednesday, 28th September, 1966.

TEST BAN MONITORING STATION FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA

'  (Statement by the Minister for Defence, Ã¢ÂÂ   the Hon. Allen Fairhall, Ivl.P..)

The United Kingdom shortly is to set up and operate

a detection station in Western Australia, which is intended to

monitor the partial nuclear test ban treaty.

The Minister for Defence, Mr. Allen Fairhall,  said

today that a small party of British civilian scientists would

arrive in October, and that preparatory work would commence on

a site at the RAAF Base,  Pearce, Western Australia. The site had

been used by the United States for the purpose of conducting

scientific research, the major portion of which had been .

completed. The remaining portion of the United States project

would be taken over by the United Kingdom.

Mr. Fairhall said that while the new equipment,  which

was intended to monitor the nuclear test ban treaty, would be of

a classified nature,  all resultant data would be available to

Australia.

Agreement had been reached between Australia and

Britain for operation- of the station. The co-operating agencies

would be the Australian Department of Air and the United Kingdom

Atomic Energy Authority. .

All costs of operating the specialised equipment at

the station would be borne by the United Kingdom.

FURTHER ENQUIRIES; Director of Public Relations,  .  Department of Defence,

'  CANBERRA.  A.C.T.

TELEPHONE; 65.2897 (Office) ‘

4.4342 (Home)

