Labor recognises the important role the OPAL (Open Pool Australian Light-water) nuclear reactor, approved today, will play in the production of radio-pharmaceuticals in the medical treatment of many Australian patients.

A replacement for the old reactor is necessary for the safe production of lifesaving radio-pharmaceuticals, and Labor will continue to monitor these crucial safety issues.

The approval of the licence by ARPANSA (the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) for the new reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney has highlighted the need for the safety and security of staff and the nearby community to be made a priority.

In its licence approval ARPANSA placed strict, extra conditions on ANSTO to review the safety and security of the reactor and its operations. ANSTO will have to report all accidents at the reactor within 24 hours and to regularly review their safety arrangements.

ARPANSA CEO Dr John Loy said in the approval "Safety culture in operating OPAL needs constant attention… I have included a licence condition requiring a safety culture program and safety climate surveys from time to time."

The Howard Government must end its culture of secrecy surrounding nuclear reactors and nuclear waste and make sure the community is told what is going on at Lucas Heights.

Today's decision by ARPANSA to grant an operating licence to the new research reactor also brings a nuclear waste dump one step closer for the people of the Northern Territory.

Labor rejects the Howard Government's decision to ram through legislation which forces a nuclear waste dump on the people of the Northern Territory.

It is an outrage that the people of the Northern Territory have had a nuclear waste dump forced on them without consultation.

The people of the Northern Territory were repeatedly misled in the lead up to the 2004 election by the Howard Government promising there would not be a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory.