Antinuclear

“Veterans have been knocked back for a Gold Card because the Department argues they were not exposed to harmful amounts of radiation,” Senator Xeophon said….”But we all know that there is a very high rate of cancers, disease and genetic illnesses among those who served at nuclear test sites.”…”[veterans say] the only thing I can assume is that stalling for time is waiting for us all to die and they won’t have to give anybody anything”,”

MAJOR PARTIES CONTINUE TO NEGLECT MARALINGA VETERANS 12 Sept.11, Independent Senator for South Australia, Nick Xenophon, says both the Government and the Coalition should be ashamed that they didn’t support the automatic provision of Gold Cards to Maralinga veterans, nor did they support a review into the expected costs of doing so in Parliament today. “It’s quite amazing that both the Government and the Opposition have put a blanket ban on this option without even considering it,” Nick said.

Under current legislation, veterans have to prove a direct link between their illness and their service to be eligible for the Repatriation Health Card — For All Conditions (Gold).

Nuclear test participants are currently only able to receive the White Card.

“Veterans have been knocked back for a Gold Card because the Department argues they were not exposed to harmful amounts of radiation,” Nick said.

“Yet some of these veterans say they did nothing more than turn their backs for mere moments, before turning around to watch the aftermath of the nuclear explosion. How much more radiation did they need to have been exposed to?”

Under Nick’s amendment, nuclear test participants would automatically be provided with the Gold Card.

“The current test to receive the Gold Card is too high for nuclear test veterans because, quite simply, it is nearly impossible to prove a direct link,” Nick said.

“But we all know that there is a very high rate of cancers, disease and genetic illnesses among those who served at nuclear test sites.”

This amendment was not supported in the Senate and the second reading amendment for a cost review to be undertaken, co-sponsored with Australian Greens’ Senator Penny Wright, was also voted down by both parties.

Over 17,000 Australian soldiers and civilians were directly involved in nuclear tests between 1952 and 1967 at Emu Field and Maralinga in South Australia and on the Monte Bello islands off the west coast of Western Australia.

“Sadly, only about 2000 of these veterans are left, so I find it amazing that both the major parties won’t support them having increased access to health services, nor will they support even a cost review into the option,” Nick said.

“Veteran’s have said it to me before, but I perhaps never really believed it until today … that “the only thing I can assume is that stalling for time is waiting for us to all die and they won’t have to give anybody anything”,” Nick said.