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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 458 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 December 2021 by Hon Dr Brad Pettitt

Question Directed to the: Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Police
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

I refer to the US Astute class nuclear submarine that visited HMAS Stirling Naval Base on Garden Island in October 2021 and I ask in reference to the HAZMAT Annex A Radiation Escape from a Nuclear Powered Warship State Hazard Plan (State Hazard Plan):
(a) was this State Hazard Plan put into place for the recent visit of the US Astute class nuclear submarine:
(i) if no to (a), what hazard plan was in place for this visit;
(b) was the Commissioner of Police responsible for the safety of the public:
(i) if no to (b), who was responsible for the safety of the public; and
(ii) if yes to (b), what kind of training and preparation for the visit was given to the Commissioner and by what agency;
(c) when was the last training exercise conducted for a visit by a nuclear warship:
(i) did this include responses for a nuclear submarine;
(ii) if no to (c)(i), why not; and
(iii) has there ever been training for emergency services to respond to a nuclear submarine incident along our shorelines;
(d) point 3.3.3 of the State Hazard Plan is that the nuclear warship or in this case a nuclear submarine be “removed to sea or to remote anchorage” within a specified time limit” and I ask, how far out to sea and what remote anchorage are specified in the case an alarm is raised;
(e) was there any radiation monitoring in place during the visit of the Astute class nuclear submarine:
(i) if no to (e), why not; and
(ii) if yes to (e), what were the readings of that monitoring; and
(f) were “preliminary actions” set out in 4.2.1 of the State Hazard Plan conducted, specifically:
(i) was there an assessment of the state of preparedness of all involved in State organisations:
(A) if no to (f)(i), why not; and
(B) if yes to (f)(i), what were the findings of that assessment; and
(ii) was there a pre-visit exercise conducted:
(A) if no to (f)(ii), why not?
(B) if yes to (f)(ii), what agencies were involved and when was the exercise conducted?

Answered on 15 February 2022

The Western Australian Police Force advise:

(a)   Yes, as the Royal Navy's Astute Class Submarine is a Nuclear Powered Warship.

                                           i.               Not applicable.

(b)    Yes.

                                           i.               Not applicable.

                                         ii.              The Western Australia Police Force is supported by specialist advice from subject matter experts operating as part of the Port Safety Organisation inclusive of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. Further assistance is provided by other trained and qualified government combat and support agencies such as the WA Department of Health, Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the Australian Defence Force.

(c)   21 February 2019.

                                           i.               Yes.

                                         ii.              Not applicable.

                                       iii.               Yes.

(d)   Three Nautical Miles from the baseline and anchorage would be decided with consultation with the Port Safety Organisation.

(e)   Yes.

                                           i.               Not applicable.

                                         ii.              No observable increase in the external gamma radiation level above background.

(f)    Yes.

                                           i.               Yes.

A.      Not applicable.

B.       At a meeting of the Nuclear-Powered Warship Visiting Ships Coordinating Committee each stakeholder confirmed their state of preparedness for the visit.

                                         ii.              No.

A.      Due to the short notice of visit.

B.       Not applicable.