Nuclear inspectors tested autos coming in from Japan at the union's request, but failed to test the air filters and said, "Our exercise was one primarily of reassurance. Our guidance remains that such inspections and screening aren't strictly necessary."
A leading anti-nuclear figure has cast doubts over the integrity of radiation screening in Port Kembla, saying the tests were grossly inadequate.
Dr Helen Caldicott made the comments after tests on a ship full of cars from Japan returned negative readings.
Two Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) inspectors boarded the Trans Future 7 yesterday morning to test 102 of the ship’s 800 new and used vehicles.
The tests were conducted only after Port Kembla dock workers raised concerns they could be exposed to radiation from the earthquake and tsunami-ravaged Fukushima nuclear plant.
The Nobel Peace Prize nominee said the best way to properly detect radiation in vehicles was to remove and test engine and passenger compartment air filters.
Inspectors tested the engine filter of only one car yesterday instead relying on hand-held monitors to scan the external and internal surfaces of the 102 vehicles.
“ARPANSA is trying to cover this up and say ‘look, we know what we’re doing’ but they don’t,” Dr Caldicott said.
“Our exercise [yesterday] was one primarily of reassurance,” the ARPANSA CEO said. “Our guidance remains that such inspections and screening aren’t strictly necessary.”
Maritime Union of Australia assistant national secretary Warren Smith also said he had reservations about the rigour of yesterday’s tests.