FOR PRESS 7 MAY 1978
ELECTORATE TALK
The Government's decision to continue with the mining and export
of uranium for peaceful purposes announced last year was
taken only after months of exhaustive examination.
Because of our vast uranium reserves, we made it clear that as
a nation we had special responsibilities., We had responsibilities
to protect the environment and the interests of the Aboriginal
people in Northern Australia, and we also had an international
responsibility. The Government has stressed that there was no way we would not
maintain our firm stand in meeting in full each of these obligations.
Australians, and the world community, know that.
Some events in recent days have again focussed attention on
Australia's position in these three critical areas. I want to
re-iterate, and make the point stronger than ever, that our
promises and our commitment on these questions remain absolute.
Nuclear proliferation the spread of a capacity to manufacture
or acquire nuclear weapons is something that concerns people
throughout the world.
Australia, as a nation, has the capacity to strengthen the international
regime of controls and incentives preventing countries
from acquiring nuclear weapons. We can and are doing this by
setting an example through our own acceptance of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty and the I. A. E. A. safeguards on nuclear activities.
The stringent safeguards policy I announced last year demonstrates
the Govei~ nment's concern and sets conditions for the supply of our
own uranium to other countries as firm and stringent as those
adopted by any nuclear supplier country.
I have made the point on a number of occasions: those requirements
will not be reduced or weakened. This will allow Australia's
uranium help meet the world's energy needs, and strengthen the
non-proliferation regime. / 2
As a uranium exporter we will exert considerable influence in
international nuclear forums concerned with non-proliferation.
My Government is very aware of the obligations this places upon.
us. We will not compromise our safeguards policy tar commercial
advantage. Equally, those saEeguards will be applied without
discrimination. We must be sure that the world's needs for nuclear energy are
met without encouraging the destabilising force of nuclear
weapons proliferation.
The Government is actively negotiating safeguard agreements
with other countries and working on international initiatives,
such as the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation, which
is a major new world endeavour to find ways to meet national
needs for energy, consistent with non-proliferation.
The Government has also committed Australia to active participation
in current negotiations on on a new international convention on
physical security in the nuclear field. Australia has accepted
the rules on nuclear exports developed by the Nuclear Suppliers
Group which brings together the world's major nuclear supplier
countries. Initiatives such as these are complementary. Above all, they
are designed to support the major international objective of a
safer and more stable world.
Within Australia, our commitment to full environmental protection
remains firm. Legislation recently introduced into the Federal
Parliament sets out to make sure that the nuclear industry in
Australia is regulated to give the utmost protection to people
and the environment. We seek a uniform code of protection in
all States and Territories following consultation with them.
The Government has already announced that a supervising scientist
will oversee all research programs connected with the protection
of the Alligators River Region in the Northern Territory. This
scientist, directly responsible to the Government, will also
advise on the specific environmental requirements for the Ranger
project, and any uranium project in the Region.
On top of that, the Government will set up a Research Institute
to help develop programs necessary for protection of the Region's
environment. These programs will be co-ordinated by a committee
that will not only represent the mining companies and various
governments, but also the Northern Land Council representing the
Aboriginal people of the Region.
of course, the Aboriginal people are vitally involved in any
decisions taken in relation to the mining of uranium. Almost
all the known uranium prospects in the Northern Territory are on
land which is or is likely soon to be Aboriginal land. ./ 3
I have already assured the Aboriginal people that no mining
interests will be granted in Stage 2 of the Region until
Aboriginal land claims are dealt with.
In the case of Ranger, the Government, having regard to the
recommendations of the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry,
decided the project should go ahead.
The Government has accepted the recommendations of that Inquiry
that special programs be developed to minimise the social impact
of uranium mining on the 800 or so Aboriginals who live in the
Region. Many Aboriginals have expressed a wish to return to some of
their traditional land to live. The Government supports this
wish. Our commitments to the Aboriginal people, to the environment,
and our international responsibilities to help make a safer
world are being met.
Our promise has been met with performance.