Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that the Medical University of South Carolina has conducted a sophisticated meta-analysis of 17 research papers covering 136 nuclear sites throughout the Western World with the following findings:

(i)

death rates from leukaemia for children up to 9 years of age were between 5 per cent and 24 per cent higher depending on their proximity to nuclear facilities,

(ii)

death rates from leukaemia for those up to 25 years of age were 2 per cent to 18 per cent higher, and

(iii)

incidence rates of leukaemia were increased by 14 per cent to 21 per cent in zero to 9 year olds and 7 to 10 per cent in zero to 25 year olds;

(b)

considers that research such as this shows the health impact of nuclear activity; and

(c)

urges the Government not to proceed with uranium enrichment or nuclear power reactors in Australia in the light of this research.

Question put.

Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement about the previous vote.

Leave granted.

I thank the Senate. Family First acknowledges that the prospect of nuclear energy raises a range of concerns, including serious health issues. Family First shares those concerns but believes that it is too early to rule nuclear energy in or out as an option, when it is being used in many countries. Family First wants to see a full debate so we can fully examine the issues before ruling nuclear energy in or out. There are genuine concerns about nuclear power but it is too early to rule it in or out.