Safety first: Independent safety review of the nuclear submarine project is essential

“The proposed construction of a fleet of new nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide can only be done on the basis of the strictest nuclear safety assessments and the implementation of a world-class regulatory system that gives South Australians absolute safety and environmental protection.” Protection, “said Independent Senator Rex Patrick today.

“An independent nuclear safety review is an essential first step in the government’s plans to advance the proposed nuclear submarine program that was announced with such fanfare last week.”

“As a former Royal Australian Navy submarine operator who sailed in a nuclear powered United States Navy submarine, I have great confidence in the safety of USN submarine operations. With this experience, I am very much aware of the great strength of USN nuclear safety engineering, organization, regulations and culture that has been built in 66 years of operation. “

“The experience of the US Navy and the Royal Navy shows that there can be absolutely no shortcuts with regard to nuclear safety over the entire life cycle of nuclear ships – from construction and operation to decommissioning and disposal.”

“If Australia is to commit to a nuclear-powered submarine fleet, the RAN, the Department of Defense and the Australian Nuclear Regulatory Authorities must commit to building a safety regime to the same, if not better, standards as the United States and the Royal.” Marine equivalent. That is an enormous challenge; a state task that should not be underestimated. “

“It is therefore unfortunate that Prime Minister Scott Morrison made very little mention of nuclear safety when he announced that Australia’s proposed nuclear submarine fleet would be built in Adelaide, presumably at the Osborne site on the Port River.”

“This is significant as there does not appear to be any public record to suggest that Port Adelaide was ever allowed to receive visits from nuclear-powered warships. The port has never hosted such a visit. “

The last time information was given to the Australian Parliament regarding the authorization of ports for visits by nuclear warships was thirteen years ago – in August 2008. At that time the ports authorized for visits by nuclear warships were Fremantle, HMAS Stirling, Albany, Darwin, Gladstone, Brisbane and Melbourne.

More recent records were not made available. In recent years, USN nuclear warships appear to have restricted visits to Western Australia and Queensland, such as the nuclear submarine USS Santa Fe, which moored at HMAS Stirling in February 2019, and the nuclear submarine. Boat Emeraude of the French Navy the following year.

Senator Patrick said, “We do not know if Adelaide’s suitability for visits by nuclear-powered warships has ever been assessed by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency or the Interdepartmental Visiting Ships Panel (Nuclear).”

“We don’t know if ARPANSA ever applied its nuclear reference accident of 2000 to scenarios in Port Adelaide, let alone more recent modeling.”

“In any case, the use of facilities for the construction and maintenance of nuclear submarines with reactors in permanent positions or moored in the Port River are clearly scenarios that the Australian nuclear regulatory authorities never considered.”

“These are very serious issues that cannot be glossed over, nor should they be promoted by alarmist and politically motivated rhetoric.”

“What is needed is an early, independent study carried out by a wide range of relevant experts on nuclear and maritime safety and environmental issues. For this we need scientific, technical, maritime and ecological expertise at the top. “

“Australia should conduct this work independently of the broader joint study of the proposed acquisition and construction of nuclear submarines to be undertaken by the governments of Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.”

“The results of an independent study should be presented to the Australian Parliament for debate.”

“The Australian public, and especially the citizens of South Australia, must have absolute confidence that every aspect of security is fully investigated and assessed.”

Regardless of this, I urge the Senate Committee to investigate the entire resolution of the government’s submarine program and to submit an interim report to the committee before the general election.

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