Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) it has been reported that United States based company, Halliburton, has been using radioactive isotope caesium 137 for coal seam gas drilling on behalf of AGL at Gloucester and on behalf of Santos in the Pilliga forest in New South Wales, and

(ii) community members and local landholders have been unaware of the use of radioactive material in their area; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to ensure That the proposed use of radioactive material in resource development is specifically included in environmental impact statements and assessment documentation.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government takes these issues seriously but it is irresponsible of the Greens to scaremonger over the use of radioactive substances. The state government is more than capable of regulating these substances and does so by issuing radiation management licences. The use of this substance is not a nuclear action and it is not likely to have a significant impact on the environment and is, therefore, not regulated by the Australian government. We know that the Greens are opposed to basically any type of mining. This is just another attempt by them to cause unnecessary alarm. Before the Greens start to try to frighten the local community, it is important to note that not only is caesium 137 used in life-saving medical treatments for cancer but also it is used completely safely in the food processing industry. It leaves no residual radioactivity.

Question agreed to.