§ Mr.Denzil Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any radioactive material and equipment is still deposited in South Australia in consequence of the nuclear weapons tests carried out by the United Kingdom Government.
§ Mr.PattieSome radioactive material and equipment arising from the United Kingdom nuclear weapons tests remains in South Australia. The situation which applied at the time the Maralinga range was reliquished by agreement with the Australian Government in 1968 is recorded in the Pearce report, an edited version of which was published in Australia by the Department of National Development in May 1979. Approximately ½ kilogram of plutonium was repatriated in 1979 in a joint United Kingdom/Australian operation.
§ Mr.Denzil Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any United Kingdom nuclear weapon tests have been undertaken in South Australia since those conducted in the early 1950s; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr.PattieNo United Kingdom nuclear weapon tests have taken place in Australia since the series at Maralinga, the last one being in October 1957. A full list is held in the Library.
§ Mr.Denzil Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library a document setting out the policies and priorities employed for the protection of personnel and local inhabitants relating to the United Kingdom nuclear weapon tests carried out in South Australia in the 1950s.
§ Mr.PattieThe instructions relating to the protection of personnel and local inhabitants were contained within each set of instructions which differed necessarily for each series of tests. The instructions are not, therefore, contained in any one document.