Australia’s nuclear emergency centre ‘on alert’ after Iran attack

Australia’s nuclear safety watchdog has put its emergency centre “on alert” as fighting escalates between Israel, the United States and Iran, with radiation experts monitoring for potential risks to Australians.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) confirmed the precautionary move to activate the centre for around-the-clock operations, as the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog warned of the potential for mass evacuation across the Middle East if nuclear sites were targeted.

The Melbourne-based Radiation Emergency Coordination Centre (RECC) effectively acts as the federal government’s nuclear incident room. When activated, or placed on heightened readiness, it can monitor global radiation threats, model how radioactive material could spread and provide 24-hour advice on real or potential events.

“As a precaution and to be prepared, the ARPANSA RECC is on alert, and is monitoring the current situation and will provide advice as required to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as the lead agency for this current conflict,” a spokesperson said.

“ARPANSA maintains the RECC as a standing national capability. The capability can produce plume modelling, radiation contamination advice and precautionary measures, developed by experts in this field.”

The US and Israeli strikes on Iran have plunged the Middle East into an expanded regional conflict, triggered by an apparent lack of progress between the US and Iran in curbing Tehran’s nuclear program.

The decision to put Australia’s nuclear emergency centre “on alert” follows the full activation of RECC last June, when Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military and nuclear-linked facilities. Iran responded with ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel, fuelling fears of a wider regional confrontation.

The move, not publicly announced at the time, was disclosed in a recent ARPANSA report, which revealed the centre was “activated” to evaluate the radiological contamination risks and advised DFAT on measures for Australian citizens’ safety.

In a statement provided to this masthead, an ARPANSA spokesperson said the activation followed warnings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that while offsite radiation levels were initially normal, there was a risk of radiological and chemical contamination inside affected facilities.

The agency said while there was no evidence of any radiological impact on Australia or Australians overseas, the response was “precautionary and preparedness‑focused”.

“The RECC is activated, or placed on heightened readiness, for a range of real or potential events, its activation does not imply that a radiation release has occurred,” a spokesperson said.

Following the attack on Iran, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian government supported the US acting to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

“We have long recognised that Iran’s nuclear program is a threat to global peace and security. With international partners, including the United States and the G7, we have called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens,” Albanese said on Sunday.

“Sadly, these calls have gone unheeded and action has now been taken. We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security.”

The conflict has since expanded across the Middle East, with strikes reported in Bahrain, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Following a meeting of the IAEA’s Board in Vienna, held on Monday night Australian time, director-general Rafael Grossi said that while there were no signs of elevated radiation levels, he warned of the possibility of a “radiological release” if strikes continue.

“Let me underline that the situation today is very concerning,” he said. “We cannot rule out a possible radiological release with serious consequences, including the necessity to evacuate areas as large or larger than major cities.”

Grossi told the meeting that Iran and many other countries that had been subjected to military attacks had nuclear power plants, research reactors and storage sites, increasing the threat to nuclear safety.

“The United Arab Emirates has four operating nuclear reactors; Jordan and Syria have operational nuclear research reactors. Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have also been attacked,” he said.

“These countries all use nuclear applications of some sort or the other. We therefore urge utmost restraint in all military operations.”

Israel also has nuclear research reactors, as well as the Middle East’s only stockpile of nuclear weapons.

The watchdog said it was continuing its efforts to contact Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities, with no response so far.

“Let me reiterate that we hope this indispensable channel of communication can be re-established as soon as possible,” Grossi said.

Read more on the US-Israel-Iran war:

• Live updates: US sinks Iranian warship by torpedo off Sri Lanka
• The news: Iranian leader labels Trump ‘Israel First’
• Tracking the war: Where the US struck and where Iran retaliated
• Israel attacks Lebanon: What is Hezbollah and why is Israel attacking Lebanon? 
• The three men to stop Trump: Who are the Islamic Republic’s interim leadership team?
• Iran’s nuclear proposal: The tantalising fact Trump couldn’t ignore 

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