<< Return to previous page | Senate Select Committee for an Inquiry into the Contract
for a New Reactor at Lucas Heights

Table of Contents

Membership of the Committee (PDF format) (Word format)
Terms of reference (PDF format) (Word format)
Table of contents (PDF format) (Word format)
Abbreviations (PDF format) (Word format)
Executive summary with recommendations (PDF format) (Word format)

CHAPTER ONE (PDF format) (Word format)

Introduction

Establishment of the inquiry
Conduct of the inquiry
Structure of the report
Acknowledgments

CHAPTER TWO (PDF format) (Word format)

HIFAR and the Replacement Research Reactor Project

Research reactors
The High Flux Australian Reactor (HIFAR)
Review of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment—1979
Report by the Australian Science and Technology Council (ASTEC)—1985
Legislation establishes the Australian Nuclear Science and
Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
The Australian Science and Technology Council—1992
The Research Reactor Review—1993 (the McKinnon Review)
Decision to replace HIFAR
The Replacement Research Reactor Project

The scope of the project
Inquiries into the Government’s decision to build a new research reactor

PART I (PDF format) (Word format)

The Need For A New Research Reactor

CHAPTER THREE (PDF format) (Word format)

The New Research Reactor – Science and Industry

Introduction
The validity of science and industry enhancement claims

         Nuclear reactor as a research tool

HIFAR’s contribution to research and development

An ageing HIFAR
The growing demand for neutron scattering sources
The new research reactor and its role in Australian industry
Old science, new science
Suitcase science
First class or second class facility
Alternative technologies
Establishing priorities

Conclusion

CHAPTER FOUR (PDF format) (Word format)

The New Research Reactor—Medical Isotopes

Introduction
The supply of radioisotopes in Australia
Radioactive sources and nuclear medicines used in diagnosis
and treatment

Diagnostic use
Therapeutic use

Alternative modalities to reactor produced radioisotopes for diagnosis

Computerised Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Substitutes for medical radioisotopes produced in nuclear reactors

Cyclotrons

Importation of radioisotopes

The market place and importation
The logistics of importing radioisotopes
Medical research and development

CHAPTER FIVE (PDF format) (Word format)

The New RESEARCH Reactor — The National Interest

Australia’s involvement in nuclear non-proliferation
A research reactor and political credibility
Expertise in nuclear science and technology and non-proliferation
and nuclear safeguards systems
Nuclear science expertise, political skills and international diplomacy
International Atomic Energy Agency
Australia’s role in the region

National interests extend beyond security issues

Conclusion

PART II (PDF format) (Word format)

The Tendering Process And Contract

Replacement Research Reactor Project Chronology

CHAPTER SIX (PDF format) (Word format)

The Tendering Process

The announcement of INVAP as the preferred tender
Overview—the quality and accuracy of information relied on in
assessing the tenders
Pre-Qualification
Preparation of tender documentation

Site visits
Site visits cost
Purpose and outcome of the visits
Drafting the tender documents— consultants and advisers

Formal tender phase

Preparing and submitting tenders

The evaluation stage

Compliance Review
Qualitative evaluation
Clarification process
Comparative review
Final recommendation
Overall assessment of the tendering process

The probity of the tendering process
Evaluating the evaluation

Functional performance specifications and risk

Criticism of the outcome

Computer modelling

Checks of INVAP’s record

Reference reactor
Financial standing
Safety record

Overview of the tendering process
Public access to information

CHAPTER SEVEN (PDF format) (Word format)

The Contract

The signing of the contract
Accuracy of cost assessments
Outline of the project under contract
The timeframe and process to be followed by the Australian
Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
Other requirements for approvals from the Commonwealth, state
or local government
Preconditions set in the Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and other previous inquiries
The nature of any provisions in the contract related to the ability
of either party to terminate the contract prior to completion and
the provisions in relation to compensation for termination.

Termination for Convenience (Clause 60, Conditions of Contract)
Default or Bankruptcy of INVAP (Clause 51)
Default of ANSTO (Clause 51A)

Summary

Whether all or part of the contract and other documents created
during its consideration and approval should now be made public

Accountability to Parliament
Reasons for documents withheld

PART III (PDF format) (Word format)

Preconditions Set by Previous Inquiries, Public
Health And Safety, And Spent Fuel And
Waste Management

CHAPTER EIGHT (PDF format) (Word format)

Previous Inquiries, Consultation and Public
Health and Safety

Introduction
Senate Economics References Committee Report
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Community consultation

Avenues for public consultation and information provision
What information should be in the public domain

Community Right to Know Charter – matters in dispute

The tone of communications from ANSTO
The conditions of genuine communication

Site emissions and their impact on public health
Reference accident
Emergency management procedures

CHAPTER NINE (PDF format) (Word format)

Fuel and Waste Management

Introduction
The adequacy of fuel and waste management provisions in the contract

Fuel type and source

Criticisms of proposed fuel types
Fuel source

Spent fuel management arrangements during operation
Arrangements for safe reprocessing, storage and disposal of spent fuel

ANSTO’s arrangements with COGEMA for reprocessing silicide fuel
INVAP’s technical capacity to reprocess spent fuel
Alleged constitutional impediments

Fuel and waste management provisions outside the contract
Timing of storage facilities for waste arising from spent fuel rods

Potential difficulties in guaranteeing provision of a store

CHAPTER TEN (PDF format) (Word format)

The Role of ARPANSA

Introduction
History of ARPANSA

Structure of ARPANSA

Licensing of nuclear facilities
Provisions for public consultation

Public hearing and full public consultation
Conclusion

CHAPTER ELEVEN (PDF format) (Word format)

Conclusion and Recommendations

The need for a new reactor
The tendering process and the contract
Request to Auditor General for consideration
Accountability to Parliament
Safety, public health and public consultation
Safety—Radioactive Waste

LIBERAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (PDF format) (Word format)
SENATORS’ MINORITY REPORT

Introduction
The need for a new reactor
The replacement research reactor and medical isotopes
The replacement research reactor and national interest
The tendering process and the contract
Public health, safety and nuclear waste management
Overall conclusions

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT—THE AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS (PDF format) (Word format)

Introduction
The need for a new reactor
Tendering process and the contract
Health, safety and the management of nuclear waste

APPENDIX 1 (PDF format) (Word format)

List of Submissions

APPENDIX II (PDF format) (Word format)

List of witnesses who appeared before the Committee
at public hearings

APPENDIX III (PDF format) (Word format)

Summary of ANSTO Commitments and Undertakings

Environment Assessment Report, February 1999
Conclusion and Recommendations

APPENDIX V (PDF format) (Word format)

Answers to questions on notice - Industry, Science and Resources
Portfolio Additional Estimates 2000-2001, 21 February 2001

APPENDIX VI (PDF format) (Word format)

Order for Production of Documents, Tuesday, 6 February 2001

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