Ben Morton (Tangney, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The budget announcement that the government will provide DVA gold cards to participants in the British nuclear testing program of the 1950s and '60s is welcome relief for our veterans—then young Australians who served at their country's call during the period of national service and who served in the very hazardous conditions in the Montebello Islands. Leon Watt, a national serviceman and former member of the Western Australian state parliament, lives in Tangney, and he provided me with a very personal briefing on his experiences and the experiences of his fellow servicemen.

I note the story of Air Force veteran Rex Kaye, who served at Woomera, as it was recounted in my local paper. They were washed in seawater around the bomb site. They breathe the contaminated air 24 hours a day. The crew of the HMAS Junee and HMAS Fremantle had ringside exposure to the 1956 tests. On the Junee, crews were lined up on the upper deck in their uniform of shorts, short-sleeved shirts and sandals, fully exposed to the heat, sound and radiation blast from the explosion. Also on the deck were British scientists, dressed in complete hazard gear. The scientists knew the dangers of exposure, and took every precaution—unfortunately, with no regard to the inappropriately dressed Australian servicemen.

Many servicemen who were involved in the atomic tests are still suffering or have passed away. I hope the DVA gold card goes a long way to supporting these veterans and recognising their service to our nation.