House debates Questions without Notice
Lucas Heights Reactor
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
3:21 pm
My question is again to the Minister for Education, Science and Training. I refer to the minister’s last answer, where she asserted that there was no impact on the surrounding community and that it was under control despite a canister explosion at the Lucas Heights reactor last Thursday night. Is the minister aware that the Chief of Operations, Dr Ron Cameron, has informed staff, ‘A small amount of radioactive noble gases—xenon and krypton—was released through the stack’? Hasn’t the minister just misled the House?
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
The answer is no. The report from ANSTO—through its spokesman, Mr Pearce—was that there was absolutely no radiation threat to the health of ANSTO workers or the community.
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Ms Macklin interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has asked her question.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
Mr Pearce went on to say that there was no measurable contamination found outside the immediate area where the incident occurred and there were no off-site consequences. So, according to ANSTO, there was absolutely no radiation threat to the health of the workers of ANSTO or the community. This is just a beat-up by Labor to deflect from the fact that we are having an open debate on nuclear power.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, on a point of order: this was a very specific question. It quoted ANSTO’s Chief of Operations, Dr Ron Cameron.
David Hawker Speaker
The member will tell me his point of order; he will not repeat the question.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
It goes to relevance, Mr Speaker. We asked the minister to respond to the fact that radioactive gases were released into the surrounding area.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
The Labor Party is clearly trying to deflect from the fact that we are having a debate on nuclear power. As I said earlier, ANSTO have stated that there was absolutely no radiation threat and no measurable contamination outside the immediate area where the incident occurred or in the community generally.
Roger Price Chifley, Australian Labor Party
Mr Speaker, I ask that the minister table the document that she was reading from.
David Hawker Speaker
Was the minister reading from a confidential document?
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
Yes.