Kuriger Barbara: Radiation Safety Bill — First ReadingText is subject to correctionKuriger Barbara: Radiation Safety Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 10 March 2015. Volume:703;Page:2086. Text is subject to correction.]BARBARA KURIGER (National—Taranaki - King Country):In 1969 man first walked on the moon. In 1965 the film The Sound of Music was released and the Beatles won their first Grammy. All are memories today and we look back fondly and say: “Oh what a great time the sixties were.” I know there has been comment from the other side of the House about some of us who can remember that and it definitely is within my age range. The Radiation Protection Act was passed in 1965. It is very true how times have changed and I have—[Interruption] He did. Is that when Winston came in? This legislation that we have in front of us is in fact obsolete. It does not reflect the current use of radiation sources and it is inconsistent with international standards.In 2015 it is clear that we need an overhaul of certain pieces of archaic legislation and this Radiation Safety Bill aims to modernise the outdated Radiation Protection Act from 50 years ago. In the past 50 years radiation technology has become far more intricate with the development of techniques that if in the wrong hands could become very dangerous and cause serious damage. Yet radiation technology has also developed for the better particularly in regard to oncology and cancer research and treatment.Seven years ago this National Government inherited some services around the treatment of cancer that were not adequate for New Zealanders where Kiwis needed to go overseas for their treatment. Thankfully now those days are over. This Government has since then invested more than $100 million to support cancer patients in New Zealand. Since then patients have received faster and more effective treatments and New Zealand is now in line with the international standards of 4 to 6 weeks’ waiting time for patients. Investment in radiation technology means that accuracy in targeting cancer is achieved and therefore more New Zealanders are receiving their treatment when they need to and on time. Those patients who need specialist attention in New Zealand benefit today by the Radiation Safety Bill which is before the House. This bill encourages the safe use of radiation techniques and technology and requires every person who uses that radiation source to ensure safety from any adverse effects of radiation.I recently spent some time with the mobile surgical bus. I was very lucky to be able to go and have a look at it as it was sitting outside a hospital in Taumarunui. It was performing a number of standard operations day visits and uncomplicated things that were expected to go without event and it meant that patients could have their treatment far closer to home. As we work in regional areas and we find now that more people obviously cannot live next to a major hospital we are looking more at primary care and we are looking at options for taking medical surgery and a range of other things around the country. I think it is really important in this safety feature that this legislation is enacted because if it is taken up around the country in more places in the future then we need to be sure that it is safe.I have learnt a huge amount today in my limited knowledge about radiation. You know I actually looked up to see what ionising radiation was. I think the chair of our Health Committee before put it in some quite good words. I am not going to repeat them but it was a big long Wikipedia explanation of what it actually means. Patients actually do not necessarily need to know this. They do not need to understand what it means but they do need to know that it is well understood and that they are protected from any dangers associated with the use of this radiation. So the Radiation Safety Bill will enable the protection of the health and safety of all in New Zealand and it is also protecting the environment from the harmful effects of radiation if it is not used carefully and effectively and is not well monitored.This bill also has provisions for the safe use of radiation in health services and research where it is vital for development. This bill will also enable New Zealand to meet its international obligations. It needs to do this relating to radiation safety and security. The old legislation had no provision for the preparation of safety and security plans by licensed users of radiation or for the registration of radiation sources. This new legislation establishes that all sources of radiation must have relevant authorisation to source and use radiation technologies. At the moment as mentioned earlier the majority of users of radiation technology are those in the health sector who use it for diagnostic and treatment purposes. It is crucial that these services and sources are retained and regulated. However with nearly 4500 licensed users of radiation sources in New Zealand it goes without saying that there may be many sources that currently are not covering what is actually appropriate and that is what we are looking to change in the legislation as far as this bill is concerned.So we have to make sure that what we do and what people are doing out there has no potential to harm New Zealanders and their environment. This bill will ensure that the benefits from radiation usage will outweigh the risk of harm to people and any harm to society and it is imperative that this is adequately and accurately monitored and measured to prevent any mishap and harm that could result. Radiation should not be used unless it is fit for the purpose for which it is intended. Therefore this bill outlines provisions that all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure the safe containment of a radiation source to minimise accidents should they occur.The bill outlines that the general public are not able to use up their own radiation sources and for warranted reasons. If anyone was able to use radiation at their leisure the security of New Zealand and the safety of its citizens would be in a very threatened position. There would be no way to regulate radiation use and no way to make it safe. On this note if people were to use radiation technologies out in the everyday public although they may think they are being careful they might not actually be safe users and they may end up doing more harm or more damage. This bill sets out the consequences of non-compliance—which are extremely justified—with regard to the high intensity of radiation and the damage that can happen when it is misused. To manufacture possess or control a radiation source or even to import or export radioactive material could have adverse damaging effects on New Zealanders and the environment. In summary the benefits of this legislation mean that New Zealand will be in line with international best practice. We will be able to give effect to relevant international standards thereby enhancing New Zealand’s international credibility. Thank you.