AFPPS - Justice for Maralinga officers

Australian Federal Police Protective Service Officers were employed at the former atomic testing sites at Maralinga in South Australia between 1980 and 2001.

Around 300 officers were deployed to the area to conduct regular patrols across the test sites which disturbed dust and soil, releasing radioactive isotopes into the air.

The area was known to be still heavily contaminated with radioactive waste following British atomic testing between 1956-1965.

Despite this, the officers concerned were not considered eligible for the non-liability health care (White Card) provided to Australian participants in the Maralinga tests. (‘Participant’ being defined as someone working in or around the area between 1956–1965.)

Following British decontamination efforts in the 1960s, there was still significant contamination in the soil until the Australian Government undertook a further clean-up, completed in 2000.

One of the AFP officers at Maralinga was CPSU Section Councillor and delegate Mark Hogan, who did three trips of six weeks each between 1983 and 1985.

Scientists believe these officers may have been exposed to a higher level of radiation than those actually present during the atomic tests.

Following years of tireless representation and lobbying by Mark Hogan, in 2006 the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee recommended that this matter be given serious consideration by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and that the White Card should be extended to the relevant AFP Protective Service Officers.

Finally, last October, Sean Farrelly, National Manager Compensation Policy, wrote to Mark, stating: “I am pleased to advise you that the Prime Minister has approved an amendment to the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Test (Treatment) Act 2006 to extend the eligibility criteria for Commonwealth Police.”

The Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Bill 2006 and Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Approvals) Bill 2006 is due to come before Parliament in the Autumn term and is expected to pass quickly.

Law firm Slater and Gordon are acting for several of the AFP Protective Service Officers deployed during this time. Potentially, more than 100 people will directly benefit from this.

What happened at Maralinga?

The Maralinga test site – within the Woomera Prohibited Area on the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia – was a joint test facility of the British and Australian governments.

Seven nuclear tests were performed there between 1956–1965, with approximate yields ranging from 1 to 27 kilotons. The site was also used for hundreds of minor trials, many investigating the effects of fire or nonnuclear explosions on atomic weapons.

Despite an initial cleanup in 1967, the site remained contaminated with radioactive materials. A later cleanup attempt, completed in 2000, was more successful, and work is now underway to return the site to the Maralinga Tjarutja, the traditional Aboriginal owners.

But debate continues over the safety of the site and the long-term health effects on former personnel.