|
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Background
1.1
The Hon Bruce Billson, Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister
Assisting the Minister for Defence, introduced the Australian Participants in
Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Bill 2006 and Australian Participants in Nuclear Test
(Treatment) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2006 (the
Bills) into the House of Representatives on the 14 September 2006. The Bills
were passed by the House on the 11 October 2006 and introduced into the Senate
on 12 October 2006.
1.2
The Bills relate to Australians who participated in the British nuclear
tests conducted in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. Between 1952 and 1957
British atomic weapons detonation tests were conducted in Australia at Monte Bello
Islands off the west coast of Western Australia, and at Emu Field and
Maralinga in South Australia. There were also six hundred minor trials,
including the testing of bomb components, conducted between 1953 and 1963. The preliminary
nominal roll of test participants compiled by the Department of Veterans'
Affairs listed 3235 Royal Australian Navy, 1658 Australian Army and 3223 RAAF
personnel, as well as 8907 civilians, who were involved in the testing program.[1]
1.3
There have been a number of studies into the effects of the nuclear
tests on participants. Most recently, the findings of the Australian
Participants in British Nuclear Tests in Australia Study were released in June
2006. The study found a higher rate of cancer among the nuclear test
participants than the general population. However, the higher cancer rate was
not found to be associated with radiation exposure.[2]
1.4
Entitlements for participants in the nuclear tests have been under
consideration for some time. In February 2002 the Government commissioned an
independent review of veterans' entitlements. The terms of reference required
the review committee to consider perceived anomalies with eligibility for
access to Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) benefits and qualifying
service that might be raised by several specific groups, including Australian
participants in the British atomic tests. The review committee's report,
released in January 2003, recommended that participation by Australian defence
force personnel in the British atomic tests should be declared non-warlike hazardous
service and the VEA should be amended to ensure that this declaration
could have effect in extending VEA coverage.[3]
1.5
The Government response to the report stated that the Government would
'respond positively to the needs of those affected by the British Atomic Test
programme' when the outcomes of the Australian Participants in the British
Nuclear Test Programme – Cancer Incidence and Mortality Study were available.[4]
1.6
Following release of the Australian Participants in British Nuclear
Tests in Australia Study, in June 2006 the Hon Bruce Billson MP announced
additional health care for the test participants, stating:
Although the study found that the rate of some cancers among the
nuclear test participants was higher than in the general Australian population,
it did not find any link between the increase in cancer rates and exposure to
radiation.
Despite the lack of association between cancer rates and
radiation exposure, the Government has decided that it would be appropriate to
provide health cover for nuclear test participants who have any form of cancer.[5]
Reference of the Bills
1.7
On 11 October 2006, the Senate adopted the Selection of Bills Committee
Report No. 11 of 2006 referring the provisions of the Bills to the Senate Standing
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade for inquiry and report by 7 November 2006. On the 7 November 2006 the committee was granted an extension to report
to the 8 November 2006.
Purpose of the Bills
1.8
Both Bills form a package designed to provide new health care entitlements
for eligible Australian participants in the British nuclear tests. The
Australian Participants in Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Bill 2006 provides for non
liability cancer testing and treatment for eligible participants. The treatment
is to be provided through the Repatriation Commission and the Department of
Veterans' Affairs. The second bill provides consequential amendments to the Aged
Care Act 1997, the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, the National
Health Act 1953 and the Social Security Act 1991. The Bill also
makes transitional provisions in relation to claims made.
1.9
In his second reading speech, the Hon Bruce Billson stated that the Bills
would:
...implement an undertaking given by the government in 2003 when
it announced its response to the review of veterans’ entitlements. The
undertaking was to respond positively to the health needs of the participants,
at the conclusion of the mortality and cancer incidence study of the group.[6]
Submissions and hearings
1.10
The committee advertised its inquiry in The Australian on 17 October 2006 and on the Internet. A number of organisations and stakeholders were also
contacted and invited to make submissions to the inquiry. A list of the
submissions received appears at Appendix 1.
1.11
The committee held one public hearing on 6 November 2006, at Parliament House, Canberra. A list of witnesses who appeared before the committee at that
hearing is given in Appendix 2.
Acknowledgement
1.12
The committee thanks all those who assisted with this inquiry.
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page
Website feedback: web.senate@aph.gov.au
Last reviewed 8 November 2006 by the Senate Web Administrator
© Commonwealth of Australia
Parliament of Australia Web Site Privacy Statement
Images courtesy of AUSPIC
|
