In September 1950, the then UK Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, requested via a secure telegraph, to Australia's Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, to conduct a series of atomic tests at the Monte Bello Islands off the coast of Western Australia. Over the next thirteen years, twelve major British nuclear tests would occur on Australian territory, along with thirty "minor" atomic trials testing sub-systems. The last Vixen B trial occurred in 1963 whereupon the United Kingdom moved its testing operations to the United States.
This image of British nuclear testing conducted at Maralinga in 1957 was submitted to the Royal Commission.[2]
The Royal Commission into nuclear tests arose out of a public outcry, led by media reports, over the increasing evidence (and statistical significance) of premature deaths of former Australian staff associated with the atomic tests and subsequent birth defects of their off-springs. Likewise, remote indigenous communities downwind of the tests had statistically significant higher rates of radiation related diseases not generally found among indigenous communities to the same level. In light of the increasing evidence and public lobbying by concerned groups, the Hawke Labor Government established a Royal Commission to investigate the British atomic tests in Australia.
Hearings
The Royal Commission was told that 30 badly leaking drums of radioactive waste were dumped off the West Australian coast. The Commission was also told that acting Prime Minister Arthur Fadden had sent a message to the British PM asking "What the bloody hell is going on, the cloud is drifting over the mainland?".[3] A CSIROscientist is[when?] making use of the thin blanket of radioactive caesium-137 laid over Australia from atmospheric nuclear tests to measure soil erosion.[4]
The McClelland Royal Commission was told that one hundred Aboriginal people walked barefoot over nuclear-contaminated ground because boots they had been given didn't fit.[5] The 1953 British nuclear test that allegedly caused 'black mist' phenomenon in South Australia should not have been fired and the fallout was about three times more than forecast, according to a scientist who was involved in the tests.[6][7]
A house built less than 200 metres from an area mined for mineral sands 25 years ago[when?] is still contaminated from mineral-sands tailings which are dangerously radioactive.[8] According to a special report on an investigation of residual radio-active contamination, about 100,000 dangerous metal fragments contaminated with plutonium still litter the Maralinga atomic test range – 25 years after[when?] the atomic tests which caused them.[9]
A miner has told the McClelland Royal Commission on British nuclear weapons tests in Australia, that geiger counter readings of the fallout levels near Marble Bar were "off-the-scale".[10][11]
then Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies approved the British nuclear tests without first receiving independent Australian scientific advice on the hazards to humans or the environment.
the Australia Federal Cabinet was kept in the dark by Menzies about key aspects of the nuclear tests.
the atomic test agreement by the British and Australian governments was done in retrospect after the first test had occurred.
Australia was forced to accept UK assurances on the safety and likely fallout lifespan hazards of the atomic tests, without an independent scientific assessment.
Australia's key representative to oversee the atomic tests on behalf of Australia, Sir Ernest Titterton, was in fact an expatriate British person who withheld key information from the Australian Government.
the safeguards against radiation exposure for the nuclear veterans were totally inadequate, even by the best practice standards of the 1950s.
it is probable that the rate of cancers that occurred subsequent to the atomic tests in Australia would not have otherwise occurred were it not for the fallout from the tests.
the Vixen tests on plutonium should have not occurred knowing the half-life and radiation hazard of plutonium even with 1950s knowledge of the hazards.
failure to provide Australian air crews with protective equipment on over-flights or direct fly-throughs of the atomic mushroom clouds was clearly negligent.
Controversy over findings and alleged bias
The report's approach and conclusions apparently differed from the British Government's official history, based on official British records, by Lorna Arnold.[13] This report emphasized the partnership between the two nations, and noted that the approach taken towards safety was to international standards of the time and had contrasted with the historic disregard of Australian authorities toward the welfare of indigenous people. Some observers have noted that both reports were framed in the politics of the time: Britain wished to minimize its responsibility, while the Australian government of Bob Hawke wished to implicate their political opponents alongside the British, and have suggested that the timeline of the inquiry was chosen so as not to implicate earlier Labor governments.[14] However, the Australian Labor Party had not been in power federally from 1950 until 1972, clearly undermining that argument. Likewise the Arnold report was criticized for being authored by a former employee of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), and for the author having never visited the test sites nor interviewed Australian participants who worked on the atomic tests. The Royal Commission witness statements of recounting discussions between Australian RAAF and USAF B-29 flight crews clearly demonstrate that the tests were not at then international standards in terms of testing instruments nor health and safety precautions for radiation.[15] The Royal Commission heard ample evidence of British scientists being fully dressed in protective radiation suits that were not issued to Australian staff working in the same high-risk radiation zones. Overall the Arnold argument that the British nuclear tests were a partnership was not compatible with the documented facts that the British controlled and managed the tests and the Australians worked under direction from British atomic test leaders.
^Hyland, Anne (23 December 2022). "From brickie's labourer to Supreme Court judge: Peter McClellan's extraordinary career". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^"Nuclear test at Maralinga". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 17 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Walker, Frank (2016). Maralinga: The chilling expose of our secret nuclear shame and betrayal of our troops and country. Sydney: Hachette. ISBN978-0-7336-3593-9.pp.303-306
^Arnold, Lorna (1987). A very special relationship : British atomic weapon trials in Australia. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN0-11-772412-2. OCLC 15501029.
^Michel, Dieter. "Villains, Victims and Heroes: Contested Memory and the British Nuclear Tests in Australia". API Network.
^Walker, Frank (2016). Maralinga: The chilling expose of our secret nuclear shame and betrayal of our troops and country. Sydney: Hachette. ISBN978-0-7336-3593-9. pp.53
Bibliography
Tynan, Elizabeth. Atomic Thunder: The Maralinga Story. Sydney: NewSouth. ISBN978-1-742-23428-1.
Walker, Frank (2016). Maralinga: The chilling expose of our secret nuclear shame and betrayal of our troops and country. Sydney: Hachette. ISBN978-0-7336-3593-9.
British Nuclear Tests in Australia - Royal Commission [1]
January 13, 2023
mcclelland, royal, commission, royal, commission, into, british, nuclear, tests, australia, inquiry, australian, government, 1984, 1985, investigate, conduct, british, with, then, australian, government, permission, australian, territory, soldiers, testing, nu. The McClelland Royal Commission or Royal Commission into British nuclear tests in Australia was an inquiry by the Australian government in 1984 1985 to investigate the conduct of the British in its use with the then Australian government s permission of Australian territory and soldiers for testing nuclear weapons It was chaired by Jim McClelland Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in AustraliaOutcome7 Recommendations in Final Report Vol 3 CommissionersJames McClellandJill FitchWilliam JonasInquiry period16 July 1984 1984 07 16 20 November 1985 1985 11 20 Counsel AssistingPeter McClellanAM KC 1 Final Reports Vol 1 Vol 2 Vol 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Hearings 3 Inquiry findings and conclusions 4 Controversy over findings and alleged bias 5 In popular culture 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksBackground EditSee also Nuclear weapons tests in Australia and British nuclear tests at Maralinga In September 1950 the then UK Prime Minister Clement Attlee requested via a secure telegraph to Australia s Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies to conduct a series of atomic tests at the Monte Bello Islands off the coast of Western Australia Over the next thirteen years twelve major British nuclear tests would occur on Australian territory along with thirty minor atomic trials testing sub systems The last Vixen B trial occurred in 1963 whereupon the United Kingdom moved its testing operations to the United States This image of British nuclear testing conducted at Maralinga in 1957 was submitted to the Royal Commission 2 The Royal Commission into nuclear tests arose out of a public outcry led by media reports over the increasing evidence and statistical significance of premature deaths of former Australian staff associated with the atomic tests and subsequent birth defects of their off springs Likewise remote indigenous communities downwind of the tests had statistically significant higher rates of radiation related diseases not generally found among indigenous communities to the same level In light of the increasing evidence and public lobbying by concerned groups the Hawke Labor Government established a Royal Commission to investigate the British atomic tests in Australia Hearings EditThe Royal Commission was told that 30 badly leaking drums of radioactive waste were dumped off the West Australian coast The Commission was also told that acting Prime Minister Arthur Fadden had sent a message to the British PM asking What the bloody hell is going on the cloud is drifting over the mainland 3 A CSIRO scientist is when making use of the thin blanket of radioactive caesium 137 laid over Australia from atmospheric nuclear tests to measure soil erosion 4 The McClelland Royal Commission was told that one hundred Aboriginal people walked barefoot over nuclear contaminated ground because boots they had been given didn t fit 5 The 1953 British nuclear test that allegedly caused black mist phenomenon in South Australia should not have been fired and the fallout was about three times more than forecast according to a scientist who was involved in the tests 6 7 A house built less than 200 metres from an area mined for mineral sands 25 years ago when is still contaminated from mineral sands tailings which are dangerously radioactive 8 According to a special report on an investigation of residual radio active contamination about 100 000 dangerous metal fragments contaminated with plutonium still litter the Maralinga atomic test range 25 years after when the atomic tests which caused them 9 A miner has told the McClelland Royal Commission on British nuclear weapons tests in Australia that geiger counter readings of the fallout levels near Marble Bar were off the scale 10 11 Inquiry findings and conclusions EditThe McClelland Royal Commission found that 12 then Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies approved the British nuclear tests without first receiving independent Australian scientific advice on the hazards to humans or the environment the Australia Federal Cabinet was kept in the dark by Menzies about key aspects of the nuclear tests the atomic test agreement by the British and Australian governments was done in retrospect after the first test had occurred Australia was forced to accept UK assurances on the safety and likely fallout lifespan hazards of the atomic tests without an independent scientific assessment Australia s key representative to oversee the atomic tests on behalf of Australia Sir Ernest Titterton was in fact an expatriate British person who withheld key information from the Australian Government the safeguards against radiation exposure for the nuclear veterans were totally inadequate even by the best practice standards of the 1950s it is probable that the rate of cancers that occurred subsequent to the atomic tests in Australia would not have otherwise occurred were it not for the fallout from the tests the Vixen tests on plutonium should have not occurred knowing the half life and radiation hazard of plutonium even with 1950s knowledge of the hazards failure to provide Australian air crews with protective equipment on over flights or direct fly throughs of the atomic mushroom clouds was clearly negligent Controversy over findings and alleged bias EditThe report s approach and conclusions apparently differed from the British Government s official history based on official British records by Lorna Arnold 13 This report emphasized the partnership between the two nations and noted that the approach taken towards safety was to international standards of the time and had contrasted with the historic disregard of Australian authorities toward the welfare of indigenous people Some observers have noted that both reports were framed in the politics of the time Britain wished to minimize its responsibility while the Australian government of Bob Hawke wished to implicate their political opponents alongside the British and have suggested that the timeline of the inquiry was chosen so as not to implicate earlier Labor governments 14 However the Australian Labor Party had not been in power federally from 1950 until 1972 clearly undermining that argument Likewise the Arnold report was criticized for being authored by a former employee of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority UKAEA and for the author having never visited the test sites nor interviewed Australian participants who worked on the atomic tests The Royal Commission witness statements of recounting discussions between Australian RAAF and USAF B 29 flight crews clearly demonstrate that the tests were not at then international standards in terms of testing instruments nor health and safety precautions for radiation 15 The Royal Commission heard ample evidence of British scientists being fully dressed in protective radiation suits that were not issued to Australian staff working in the same high risk radiation zones Overall the Arnold argument that the British nuclear tests were a partnership was not compatible with the documented facts that the British controlled and managed the tests and the Australians worked under direction from British atomic test leaders In popular culture EditThe Royal Commission formed part of the plot of the film Ground Zero 1987 starring Colin Friels and Jack Thompson See also EditList of inquiries into uranium mining in Australia Archie Barton British nuclear tests at Maralinga Downwinders Maralinga Maralinga Australia s Nuclear Waste Cover up Montebello Islands Operation Buffalo Operation Grapple Emu Field South AustraliaReferences EditNotes Australia portal Hyland Anne 23 December 2022 From brickie s labourer to Supreme Court judge Peter McClellan s extraordinary career The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 23 December 2022 Nuclear test at Maralinga National Archives of Australia Retrieved 17 January 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link The Age The West Australian 5 1 85 The Sunday Times 6 1 85 The West Australian The Age 7 January 1985 Daily News 5 2 85 The West Australian The Age 6 2 85 The Age 13 2 1985 The West Australian 13 2 1985 The West Australian 8 4 1985 The West Australian 26 4 1985 The West Australian 6 8 1985 The Age 6 8 1985 Walker Frank 2016 Maralinga The chilling expose of our secret nuclear shame and betrayal of our troops and country Sydney Hachette ISBN 978 0 7336 3593 9 pp 303 306 Arnold Lorna 1987 A very special relationship British atomic weapon trials in Australia London Her Majesty s Stationery Office ISBN 0 11 772412 2 OCLC 15501029 Michel Dieter Villains Victims and Heroes Contested Memory and the British Nuclear Tests in Australia API Network Walker Frank 2016 Maralinga The chilling expose of our secret nuclear shame and betrayal of our troops and country Sydney Hachette ISBN 978 0 7336 3593 9 pp 53 BibliographyTynan Elizabeth Atomic Thunder The Maralinga Story Sydney NewSouth ISBN 978 1 742 23428 1 Walker Frank 2016 Maralinga The chilling expose of our secret nuclear shame and betrayal of our troops and country Sydney Hachette ISBN 978 0 7336 3593 9 Arnold Lorna Smith Mark 2006 Britain Australia and the bomb the nuclear tests and their aftermath 2nd ed Basingstoke England Palgrave Macmillan ISBN 1 4039 2101 6 OCLC 70673342 Note Updated version of A Very Special Relationship British Atomic Weapons Trials in Australia External links EditBritish Nuclear Tests in Australia Royal Commission 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title McClelland Royal Commission amp oldid 1129361319, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
