>From: Maggie Brady, Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres
Strait Islander Studies gpo Box 553 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
Between 1953 and 1963 the UK conducted a program of nuclear trials
at Maralinga and Emu in the Great Victoria Desert of South
Australia, comprising 9 atomic explosions and hundreds of small
scale experiments, which resulted in the wide distribution of
radioactive materials. The so-called Tminor trialsU created the
main contamination problem now confronting Aboriginal owners of
the land in the vicinity of Maralinga. They are Western Desert
people whose language is Pitjantjatjara and who formerly traversed
the region now contaminated. The test sites in fact lie on what
was once a major north-south walking route, linked by a series of
waterholes in the desert.
A Royal Commission investigated the testing program in 1985 and
recommended a major scientific study be conducted which would, for
the first time, incorporate as baseline data the lifestyle and
diet of Aboriginal people. At the time of the test, Aborigines
were thoroughly disregarded and it was assumed that they had
abandoned their so-called nomadic lifestyle. The diet and
lifestyle factors were important in calculations of risk factors
associated with re-occupation of the contaminated areas once they
had been cleaned up. Anthropologists were hired to work with a
small decentralised group of Aborigines living approx 160 kms
north west of the test sites, in order to document the extent of
consumption of bush foods and rations, observe food preparation
and storage (with an eye to dust and other contamination), hunting
ranges, use of the land, age ranges of populations over a yearUs
residence on the land, and to note other pathways of possible
contamination such as inhalation of dust, and absorption through
open wounds or sores.
Other scientific studies included aerial surveys of contamination,
and a radio-ecological study to assess contaminated soil, flora
and fauna (such as kangaroo and other bush animals) found in
contaminated areas. The studies were overseen by a TEchnical
Assessment Group with representatives from the UK and USA as well
as Australia. The TAG report was tabled in Parliament at the end
of 1990. It lays down several options for clean-up of the test
sites and their costs. At present the traditional owners of the
Maralinga Lands are considering the TAG report options, weighing
up the costs and benefits and subsequent environmental damage that
a clean up would entail.
It seems clear that some sort of clean up will take place,
probably in conjunction with the erection of high fences
surrounding the most contaminated areas. Meanwhile, several
individual compensation cases lodged by Aboriginal people who are
claiming damages as a result of exposure to the test fall-out,
remain unresolved. These include the claims of survivors of one
family who walked out of the desert into the test area in 1967
from a northern community, and others who suffered skin problems
and blindness after coming into contact with the Tblack mistU,
fallout from the Totem 2 test in October 1953. Also unresolved is
the question of whether the British will pay up for the clean up
of the lands they contaminated.
Aboriginal people are still living in the desert north west of
Maralinga, some 5 hours drive from their base community, Yalata to
the south. Older people express concerns about eating some of the
locally-procured bush foods, and worry about the TpoisonU from the
tests gives them unease. As usual, all these investigations,
studies and governmental vacillations have taken years, with still
no apparent outcome from the Aboriginal point of view. Lobbying
groups, representatives of the land-holding body Maralinga
Tjarutja, may visit London later in the year. A BBC TV film crew
visited the area in June 1991 and their program goes to air in
October. It is hoped that these two events will help to
precipitate action.