The Maritime Union of Australia has won a victory for workers and consumers, with cars arriving in Australia on June 23 to be screened for radiation.
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) will this week screen cars arriving in Port Kembla from Japan.
This batch test for radiation follows months of campaigning by the MUA to ensure Japanese cargo and cars were screened for radiation upon arrival in Australia.
“This is a win for workers, and also a win for the Australian public,” said Assistant National Secretary Warren Smith. Any risk of radiation is too big a risk to take. Workers and consumers come into direct contact with these cars – the Government watchdog must ensure there is no health and safety risk. The Australian public has a right to know if there is a radiation threat.”
In early May, cars arriving in Chile from Japan were found to be contaminated with radiation. Despite this, ARPANSA refused to commit to scanning cargo until today, after long-running talks with Maritime Union officials.