Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Education, Science and Training. I refer the minister to her statement this morning that she is not aware of any other incidents at the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in the past 12 months. Why is the minister unaware that the nuclear regulator, ARPANSA, has publicly stated in these four compliance reports tabled in this parliament that there were 12 incidents at the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in 2005? In the light of the minister’s ignorance, how can the Australian public have any confidence in her statement yesterday that there has been no impact at all upon the health of workers at Lucas Heights or the surrounding community and that the matter is under control?

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. In answering this, I will restate the facts that I provided to the House yesterday.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister is entitled to be heard.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The fact is that there was a ruptured pipe in a production process. This production process is the one that produces the radioisotopes for use by thousands of cancer sufferers across Australia each year. This ruptured pipe occurred almost half a kilometre away from the actual reactor. Yesterday I said that there would be no impact on the health of workers or the community, and that is absolutely correct. I am advised that in fact the incident was so minor that it is not deemed to be an incident reportable to the regulator—

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Macklin interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

but the Australian nuclear science agency reported it anyway. Yesterday I said that there was no radiation threat. I am advised that the level of radiation was less than that normally in the atmosphere. It is less than that emitting from the granite used in this House. Yesterday I said that there was no measurable contamination. I am advised that the puff of inert gas was harmless—

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Gillard interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Lalor is warned!

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In fact, the air quality on that side of the House is more toxic. This is just blatant scaremongering by a Labor Party which is too scared to have a debate on nuclear power. It is just an attempt to discredit a valuable process, a valuable service for cancer patients—a lifesaving service. Labor is trying to discredit it. In relation to reportable incidents, the ignorance of the member for Jagajaga is astounding.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Macklin interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition continues to interject on the question she has asked. I ask her to leave the chamber under standing order 94(a).

The member for Jagajaga then left the chamber.

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Beazley interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition does not have the call and, for his benefit, the deputy leader was warned.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation operates against world’s best practice. It notifies the regulator within 24 hours.

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. This minister went out to the public today and said that there had been no incidents at the nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights this morning.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The leader will resume his seat. The minister is relevant.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question I was asked this morning was whether there were other incidents that were not deemed notifiable that had not been notified, and I said that, no, there were not. Of course there have been incidents that have been notified. They were notified to the regulator.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will start again. An incident—

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Swan interjecting

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ooh! Ooh, you’re nasty.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Lilley will remove himself under standing order 94(a).

The member for Lilley then left the chamber.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

ANSTO notifies the regulator, the regulator notifies parliament, and that is the end of the matter.