Maralinga Aboriginals and veterans blocked in their quest for justice
No way forward for Maralinga victims ABC News Jan 11, 2013 Aboriginal
people exposed to British atomic tests in the South Australian outback
have been told by lawyers their fight for compensation is over because
it is impossible to prove radiation caused their illnesses.
Seven atomic bombs were detonated at Maralinga in the 1950s and ’60s
on land that has since between handed back to traditional owners.
The Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement employed legal firm Hickman and
Rose to pursue a class action in the British courts on behalf of
Aboriginal people from the area.
The movement’s director of legal services Christopher Charles says the
firm is unable to mount a case because it cannot prove ionising
radiation is dangerous to human health.
“Regrettably it’s been made very clear that they just cannot proceed
in the English courts,” he said.
“Modern medical science has to date not been able to find a way to
prove a causation link between ionising radiation and subsequent
illness and until such time that causative link is proven and able to
be proven, these cases won’t be able to proceed……
Aboriginal people were planning to join the class action if the case
was allowed to proceed…….
Mr Charles says Aboriginal people have been deeply disappointed by the
development……
Last year, Britain’s Supreme Court blocked an attempt by 1,000 British
Maralinga veterans to seek compensation over the tests.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-11/fight-over-for-maralinga-victims/4460542
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