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

asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 29 August 2011:

With reference to the Aboriginal people of central Australia and the north west of Western Australia who were exposed to radioactive fallout or direct radiation exposure from atomic weapons testing by the British Nuclear Test Program of the 1950s and 1960s.

(1)   Has the Government ever undertaken a study into the number of Aboriginal people exposed to fallout or direct radiation exposure and the nature of their injuries; if so, can the findings of these studies be provided.

(2)   Is the Government aware of how many Aboriginal people exposed to the impacts of these tests are still alive; if so, how many.

(3)   Is the Government aware of whether any compensation, in the form of money, legal advice, healthcare or any other form of assistance has ever been offered to Aboriginal people exposed to these tests.

(4)   Are there currently any government programs, advice lines, funds, or other forms of assistance in place for Aboriginal victims of atomic weapons testing; if not, what does the Government intend to do to provide redress for those exposed to the harmful impacts of nuclear weapons testing.

(5)   Is the Government satisfied that justice has been done to those who were exposed to nuclear weapons tests.