PM Transcripts

f/ q
FOR PRESS P. M. No. 48;, 1969
NUCLEAR POWER
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
The Federal Government has invited New South Wales to
collaborate in a study of the feasibility of the establishment of a Commonwealth-
owned and controlled 500 megawatt nuclear power station. It is
also inviting all State Governments to work with the Commonwealth on a
National Consultative Committee on Nuclear Energy.
Announcing this today, the Prime Minister ( Mr Gorton)
said that the Commonwealth would prefer the station, which would be a
pilot project for Australia, to be sited in the Australian Capital Territory
or the Commonwealth Territory at Jervis Bay, although this would be
subject to technical considerations. Mr Gorton emphasised that at this
stage the Commonwealth is only prcposing a feasibility study and had not
yet made a decision to build a reactor.
If the project were to go ahead, all States would be invited
to send teams of officers to gain experience in pre-construction procedures,
construction, and commissioning of the station. Power surplus to the
needs of the Commonwealth Territories would be sold to New South Wales
on agreed terms. Mr Gorton said that the proposal for a National
Consultative Committee on Nuclear Energy followed recent discussions
between the Minister for National Development ( Mr Fairbairn) and State
Ministers responsible for power and that it would consider such matters
as The use of indigenous fuel in Australian reactors
* Licensing reactors
* International obligations on safeguards on nuclear
materials
* Disposal of radio-active waste
* Liability for injury to civilians in nuclear accidents
" The Government has taken the initiative to establish such a joint
Commonwealth, State consultative organisation because we feel that this
is the time to lay the foundations for a sound administrative and legal
framework for the introduction of nuclear energy in the power generation
field, Mr Gorton said. " Other countries have found that the building of
such a framework takes years and a late start can hamper the establishment
of a nuclear industry.
CANBERRA, 12 June 1969