Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I understand that I do not have support from either the government or the opposition on this motion, so I wanted to note briefly what this motion actually does, because I doubt many senators present have taken the time to read it. The motion does nothing more than state facts about the serious and ongoing nuclear disaster on the north-east Pacific coast of Japan. The motion notes a number of official government reports and statements and it notes that the disaster is the worst possible type of nuclear event. It notes that the radiation levels are seriously dangerous to human health and the environment in the long term. It also acknowledges and encourages Australian nuclear expertise—because we have a fair degree of that here in Australia—to keep gathering data.