URANIUM EXPORTS

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:10): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development, representing the Minister for Mineral Resources Development, a question about uranium exports to Japan.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: The Fukushima nuclear disaster has resulted in the evacuation of a vast area and thousands of people within a 20-kilometre radius of the crippled power plant. It has resulted in leaks of radiation to the marine environment and to the atmosphere. It has resulted in elevated radiation levels in drinking water, vegetables and fish, making them unfit for human consumption. We know that the Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant, has been a buyer of South Australian uranium for many years. My questions are:

1. How much South Australian uranium from Olympic Dam has been exported to Japan and used in the Fukushima nuclear reactor?

2. What assurance can the minister give that the radiation that has escaped, and is still escaping, from the plant and contaminating the environment is not from South Australian uranium?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for his questions and will refer those to the relevant minister in another place and bring back a response.