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

My question is to the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Can the minister now confirm that on 1 May this year the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation ceased providing radiation monitoring and protection services by health physics surveyors at the Lucas Heights reactor between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am? Is the minister aware that New South Wales fire brigades will attend incidents they are called to at the Lucas Heights facility but may be unable to enter the site to deal with incidents unless they have a full briefing on the radioactive hazards on the site from these expert surveyors? Is the minister aware that the reduction in onsite expert staff may lead to a delay in emergency services responses of up to two hours? What action is the minister taking to address these very serious potential delays?

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 Leader of the Opposition for his question. The changes to the staffing rosters have been effected with the full support of ARPANSA, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, and with the support of the unions. There is, in fact, a site operations safety supervisor onsite 24 hours a day. These staff have the expertise to address any health and safety concerns. The change in monitoring arrangements has no effect whatsoever on the safety of workers at Lucas Heights.