9. GARETH HUGHES (Green) Link to this
to the Minister for the Environment
When did the Government become aware that radioactive uranium ore was being shipped through New Zealand ports and the exclusive economic zone for later use in nuclear reactors?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment) Link to this
I am advised that Government officials have been aware since the 1970s of the trans-shipment of yellowcake uranium ore through New Zealand ports. I was advised in March this year that the Environmental Risk Management Authority had issued a permit for trans-shipping yellowcake through the Ports of Auckland. I note that the yellowcake poses little health or environmental risk, and that the Australian Government ensures that its ore is used only for peaceful purposes—that is, non-military use.
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
Yes, I can. I note though that uranium is naturally occurring. It is a very weak radioactive element, which is widely distributed throughout the Earth’s crust in rocks, soils, stream sediments, rivers, and oceans. I am also advised by the National Radiation Laboratory that uranium is common in foods and also exists in our human bodies. Uranium contributes to natural background radiation—and perhaps that might explain why Mr Charles Chauvel keeps flashing.
Does not the shipping of radioactive uranium undermine New Zealand’s proud, nuclear-free history, and the blood, sweat, and tears of hundreds of thousands of Kiwis who in the 1980s fought to entrench our nuclear-free status, which is just so important to our valuable “clean, green” brand?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
No; in fact, if we took that sort of silly position on radioactive substances we would destine hundreds of New Zealanders to a painful death, because many of those radioactive imports are used to treat cancer.
When will the Government act to ensure that New Zealand is not part of the nuclear chain, in supporting nuclear generation and possibly nuclear weapons?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
I have already made plain that the Australian Government has strict criteria that it will allow the export of uranium ore only for peaceful purposes. Furthermore, my colleague Georgina te Heuheu has just this week been part of a conference that is to establish very clear reporting requirements to ensure that such radioactive substances are used only for peaceful purposes. The key point I make to the Green Party is to differentiate between the very fair position, and a position strongly held by this Government, of opposition to nuclear weapons, and a view about the overall use of nuclear technology in which it is important not just for health services but for energy generation in a number of other countries.
Chester BorrowsHon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
I am advised by the National Radiation Laboratory that the radiation exposure is very low. If a person stood right next to a drum for 130 hours he or she would have the same level of exposure as someone would naturally have over the course of a year. The Environmental Risk Management Authority actually advises me that the high level of risk is from the toxicity, not the radiation, and then it is a risk only if someone ingests—that is, eats—large quantities. Given that the substance is only to be in the hulls of ships, I do not think the risk of that is high.
Was the Government notified that in May of this year the Pacific Pintail and the Pacific Heron, carrying radioactive, mixed oxide plutonium en route to Japan via the Tasman Sea, possibly passed through New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
I have received advice only in respect of uranium and the use of yellowcake. I am advised that that poses no significant risk to New Zealanders’ health or our environment.
Is it acceptable that successive Governments did not even know that radioactive uranium and plutonium had been passing through our waters?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
Governments have been aware, but unlike the sort of attitude where the mere mention of the word “uranium” makes the party breathless, most parties take a rational view of risk, and expect officials to advise us of issues where there are significant risks to the public health or the environment. All of the science advice is that there are very low levels of risk. I note that any New Zealanders holidaying in Australia, in any one of the national parks where there are extensive uranium deposits, would be exposed to a greater degree of radiation through their holiday than they would be by these shipments.
Will the Minister now take a stand and make clear that as a nuclear-free country it is not OK to have nuclear shipments going towards the nuclear energy and possibly nuclear weapons industry?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
No. It is as if the member has a paranoia about anything that relates to radioactivity or uranium. I remind the member that uranium is prevalent right through our environment, including in our own bodies. Although it is right to have a strong position against nuclear weapons, the peaceful use of nuclear technology is part of a modern society.
I seek leave to table two documents, the first being an editorial from the Taipei Times, which shows that uranium from Australia is used in Chinese power stations in lieu of the uranium that goes into Chinese warheads.
Mr SPEAKERI seek leave to table the energy science report Nuclear Safeguards, which illustrates that our actions enable countries to have the capacity to develop both nuclear energy and nuclear warheads.