

Speech

Speech by Senator the Hon Nick Minchin  Minister for Finance and Administration  Leader of the Goverment in the Senate

Speech to Contamination 07 Industry Summit

Hilton Hotel, Adelaide, June 26 2007

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Thank you Peter   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Thank you Ravi for inviting me to open the first-ever Australian Industry Contamination Summit   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Pleased to be here as Commonwealth Finance Minister, but also as a Liberal Senator for South

Australia - so I'm particularly pleased this Summit is taking place in my home city of Adelaide   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ May I begin by congratulating Ravi and everyone else involved in organising this significant and  historic event   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ First time ever that representatives of industry, government and science have come together to

discuss challenges and opportunities presented by environmental contamination   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Summit will explore better ways to deal with and prevent contamination of land, water and air from  industrial processes - past and present - and from natural sources.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ I see this Summit as signalling a determination by Australian industry to lead the world in having the

cleanest production, the best technology and the highest standards in contamination risk  assessment and remediation.   o a laudable aim, and one the Commonwealth Government heartily applauds   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Appropriate that Summit is held in Adelaide, as this is the home of its host, the new Commonwealth

funded Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination, Assessment and Remediation of the  Environment (CARE) which I had the honour of launching earlier this year.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ CRC CARE is already breaking new ground in a number of areas.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ In January, it was announced that CRC CARE has developed world-first techniques for assessing  and remediating the highly-persistent chemicals used for decades worldwide as fire retardants.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ These fluorinated compounds are highly persistent, toxic to various soil organisms and it is  suspected that they may be linked to cancer.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ CRC CARE has developed a field test kit for these compounds, eliminating the need for time-consuming and expensive lab tests, and is perfecting two techniques to clean up surface or  groundwater contaminated with these compounds.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ CRC CARE has also found a way to devise a test and clean-up method for new compounds whose  composition is still a commercial secret - by working out the constituent elements for themselves.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Researchers at the University of South Australia which is the home of CRC CARE are also testing a  range of innovative methods for breaking down toxins in groundwater - chemicals which have been  lurking under our cities for up to 50 years.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ This is particularly important when urban development is resulting in old factory sites in the heart of  our cities becoming prime real estate.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Techniques including manipulation of naturally-occurring microbes, introduction of specially-selected  microbes, physical dispersal and oxidation are being tested at CRC CARE's labs at the University of  South Australia.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Our investment in CRC CARE is not the only area where the Commonwealth Government has  devoted resources to environmental remediation.

MARALINGA:

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The $108 million clean-up of the former British nuclear test sites at Maralinga in this great State of  South Australia, known as the Maralinga Rehabilitation Project, is the first time that a clean-up of a  former nuclear test site has been completed on this scale anywhere in the world.

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Between 1953 and 1957 the British conducted seven atmospheric atomic bomb tests at Maralinga  and two tests at Emu, in north western South Australia as well as hundreds of minor trials where  conventional explosives were used in tests with components from nuclear devices to determine  performance and safety data.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ It was actually these minor trials, not the major trials, that scattered significant amounts of

radioactive contamination onto the ground at the Maralinga test sites.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The British made three attempts to clean-up Maralinga. All were unsuccessful.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The Maralinga legacy from the British had two major components that required intervention. These  were plutonium contaminated surface soils and plutonium contaminated debris burial pits.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The first stage of the rehabilitation work was the removal of contaminated surface soil from a

combined area of more than 2.25 square kilometres, which resulted in the burial of a total of 360,000  cubic metres of contaminated material in trenches 10-15 metres deep under a capping of at least 5  m of clean soil.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The second stage was the treatment of debris burial pits by excavation and burial, and by in situ

vitrification (ISV), a process that involved passing an electric current through electrodes in the  ground to melt debris and incorporate the material into a vitrified monolith or glass/ceramic block.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Worker protection was of paramount importance during the clean-up, and was addressed primarily  with the provision of a safe operating environment in modified vehicles fitted with pressurised cabins

and by an extensive radiation safety regime.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ No workers received any measurable plutonium uptake during the clean-up.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The Maralinga Rehabilitation Project was successfully completed at the major test sites in 2000.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ In 2000, the Commonwealth's independent regulator, ARPANSA, confirmed that the clean-up of the

major test sites met the standards agreed at the start of the project by the Commonwealth, South  Australia and the traditional owners; standards which are consistent with international guidelines,  including an estimated radiation dosage which was one-fifth of the original target because of a  better-than-expected level of clean-up of residual contamination.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ As the then Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, it was my privilege to visit Maralinga on 1

March 2000, to formally announce the successful completion of the Rehabilitation Project, for which I  then had Ministerial responsibility   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ I emphasised in that speech that the Howard Government, and the Labor Government before us,  had worked together with the local Aboriginal people to rehabilitate Maralinga in a way that provided

a positive example for future clean-up efforts.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The Government accepted responsibility for the consequences of the atomic tests at Maralinga and  ensured the clean-up was conducted to the highest possible standards.

KAKADU:

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ In the May 2006 Budget, the Australian Government allocated $7.3 million, over four years, to  rehabilitate old uranium mines and related sites in what is now the Gunlom Aboriginal Land Trust  area in the south of Kakadu National Park.

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ These sites include Guratba, more commonly known as Coronation Hill, one of Northern Australia's  most sacred sites.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Mine shafts, pits, old tracks, and some hazardous material were left in this area as the result of  uranium mining between 1956 and 1964. Limited rehabilitation of these areas has been undertaken

in the past.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Another example of Commonwealth Government activity in this field is the Mount Lyell Remediation  Research and Demonstration Program (MLRRDP), which has collected technical information and  designed a remediation plan to redress environmental damage relating to Mount Lyell copper mining

activities.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The Mount Lyell Program in Tasmania is one of Australia's most comprehensive responses to large-scale environmental damage. The Program's field trials have studied cost-effective ways to reverse  the environmental damage affecting Mount Lyell, Macquarie Harbour and the King and Queen

Rivers.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The programme is of national and international significance as an example of responsible  environmental management and it also has strong local significance to the economy and quality of  life for the west coast of Tasmania.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ COCKATOO ISLAND: The Government's program to transform Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour

from a derelict contaminated shipbuilding yard into a major public events venue is part of a long-term  plan to revitalise this historic site, and again a project I have inspected first hand   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ ANTARCTICA: The Australian Government has a 10-year remediation programme to remove  contaminants from old tip sites in Antarctica, and the Australian Antarctic Division Human Impacts

Programme has conducted research into the remediation of contaminated sites at Casey and on

Macquarie Island - determining appropriate bioremediation techniques for fuel spills in Antarctica  using naturally occurring soil bacteria.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ We also established the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI), a publicly accessible database with  information on the types and amounts of substance emissions in to the Australian environment.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The NPI has been reporting for eight years, and I am pleased to note that 47 of the 90 NPI

substances reported by 3890 businesses to the latest database on 31 January 2007 showed a  decrease compared to the previous year.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The task of environmental remediation is urgent - virtually every person on earth now carries some  legacy of the industrial age in which we live in their body and in their genes.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ I was personally relieved to learn from a blood test which I did for the launch of CRC CARE earlier

this year that I did not have above-average level of pollutants in my system, although the test did find  above-average levels of Mercury as a result of eating a lot of fish   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Scientists now know that contaminants do not remain where they were first emitted but enter the  atmosphere, rivers and oceans, potentially reaching all life on the planet.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Many contaminants, in certain forms and quantities, are carcinogens, while others cause genetic

damage or lead to various forms of ill-health.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Australia has long taken pride in our well-deserved reputation as a “clean, green” exporter.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Australian industry also has a great reputation for innovation, invention and exporting our expertise

to the world - and the best part of my 3 years as Australia's Industry Minister was working with  hundreds of exciting innovative and export oriented enterprises   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ So this issue of environmental contamination is significant to us as a major exporter, and it also  presents new economic opportunities for Australia   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Estimated that Australia has between 80,000 and 100,000 contaminated sites, including fuel dumps,

sheep and cattle dips, most old mine sites, factories and munitions stores and old municipal tips.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Proper risk assessment and clean-up can transform worthless sites into areas safe for multi-million  dollar developments   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Risk assessment and remediation can potentially save Australia up to $2 billion by 2010 in clean-up

costs, as well as generating an estimated return of $4 billion from land which is now low-value or  even unusable.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Australia's health and our export reputation depend on maintaining a clean, uncontaminated  environment. This may be costly, but the cost of doing nothing would be enormous for the health of

our population, our environment and our international reputation.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Good news is that the cost of remediating a contaminated site can potentially be lower than in the  past - not everything necessarily keeps going up in price   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Improved technology and research means we have far better idea of the measures needed to clean-

up contaminated sites, including examination of less costly options, such as remediating  contamination in situ.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Development of more cost-effective and efficient methods of risk assessment and remediation  means that we solve not only our own problems - also create real potential for growth in exports of

these technologies and services.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Europe is thought to have more than 600,000 contaminated sites and the United States and Japan a  further half a million each.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Estimated to be more than three million contaminated sites in Asia alone.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Rapid industrialisation of nations such as China, India and South Korea has increased the scope for

contamination - and growing awareness of the problem by both citizens and governments.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Development of cost-effective ways to identify, assess and deal with contamination in our own  country will also provide a springboard for creation of a new knowledge-based export industry from  Australia.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ New technologies such as those being developed by CRC CARE and its partners means Australians

can contribute to improved international standards for risk assessment, remediation, health and  safety   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Contaminants were measured in parts per million only a decade ago, but modern advances in  instrumentation mean we can detect contaminants in parts per trillion.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ We can detect difference between harmful and benign metals.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Various new sensor devices enable multiple detection of contaminants, on site and in real time.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Australia has a major advantage in this new era by being at the forefront in the development of many

new technologies and approaches to the challenge of contamination.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ This advantage is clearly reflected in a new industry survey carried out by CRC CARE.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The survey covered senior executives in the mineral, energy, manufacturing, chemical,  environmental and engineering sectors and found a complete consensus across all industries that

Australia needs to assess and clean-up contaminated sites.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ It found that four out of five companies consider there are strong export opportunities for Australian  clean-up technologies and expertise.

Ã¢ÂÂ¢ It also found strong support for the concept of an industry cluster to share information about new  technologies, advances and export opportunities.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ I am therefore very happy to announce today, on behalf of the CRC, the launch of the Remediation  Industry Cluster, dedicated to bringing the best new technology and advice in this field from

science to industry and from company to company and promoting the sharing of information about  market and technology opportunities.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The cluster will be a forum for private and public sector organisations to tackle issues that block  efficient and effective remediation of contamination of water, land and air.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ It will establish and maintain effective commercial collaboration; identify and communicate business

opportunities; promote Australian capabilities to the world, and support the communication of  technology, knowledge and best practice, amongst other laudable objectives.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ It will include all levels of government, utilities, property owners and developers, the finance and  legal sectors, service providers, primary producers and manufacturers, public health professionals

and statutory bodies.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ The cluster is particularly important given there is no “industry sector” at present and networks to  date have been ad hoc, fragmented and often lacking inclusiveness.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ Cluster will ensure opportunities for reform, development and business are not missed.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ A steering group has been set up with membership of a number of different groups who will be

attracted to this cluster.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ On behalf of the Commonwealth Government, I congratulate all those associated with the formation  of this cluster, which represents the strong determination by Australian industry, particularly the  environmental remediation industry, to lead the world in meeting the global challenge of

contamination.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ So in closing can I say that the Commonwealth Government shares your view that contamination  can be seen as an opportunity - an opportunity for Australian innovation and ingenuity in this field to  be translated into prosperity, good health and a cleaner, safer environment for all Australians.   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ I therefore have much pleasure in officially launching the Remediation Industry Cluster and

declaring open the First Australian Industry Contamination Summit   Ã¢ÂÂ¢ I wish both every success.



Contact:   Senator Minchin's Office - Simon Troeth (02) 6277 7400/ 0439 300 335

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