Reactor election safety issue

The Howard Government’s consideration of Port Kembla as a site for one of the 25 nuclear reactors has emerged as a major election issue in the seat of Throsby, following the disclosure of a major radiation leak at Lucas Heights. Australia’s new $400million nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights will remain shut down until the beginning of next year - months longer than the operators had originally planned. “This confirms my concerns about the safety of nuclear reactors,” ALP Member for Throsby Jennie George – who has launched a petition opposing any Port Kembla nuclear reactor - told the Lake Times. “Port Kembla was identified as a possible nuclear reactor site due to its proximity to electricity, transport infrastructure and seawater for cooling,” she said. “The current situation at Lucas Heights does raise safety concerns about the high populations in areas surrounding not only Lucas Heights, but also in Port Kembla and other locations targeted by the Government for development of nuclear reactors.” The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) revealed the newly-commissioned reactor had difficulties because of a leak, three months after it was opened by the Prime Minister in June. ANSTO also said there were a number of problems with unstable nuclear fuel rods used to power the reactor's core. The organisation said it hoped the plant would be re-opened by mid-September, saying the worst-case scenario would be a six-month shutdown. It appears the worst-scenario has been confirmed, with a statement on the ANSTO website saying the reactor will not be operational again until January. But ANSTO says it is not commenting further because of the caretaker conventions surrounding federal election campaigns. “It is not right for the government to hide behind the caretaker conventions,” Ms George said. “The community deserves an explanation about exactly what is happening. This is obviously an issue of concern.” Ms George highlighted the poor safety record at Lucas Heights as confirmation of community concerns about safety issues attaching to any nuclear facility at Port Kembla. “We do know that in June 2006 there was a release of radiation gases from Lucas Heights,” Ms George said. “And in 2005 the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) reported that there had been 12 safety incidents at Lucas Heights. “So, even with relatively low levels of medical radiation waste at Lucas Heights, there are matters of concern regarding this shutdown. “It is a public safety issue, and the community has a right to know. “The concern for residents of Port Kembla and beyond is that there is no such thing as a safe nuclear reactor.”