Recommendations
Recommendation 2.1
The Committee Chair recommends that, particularly in the light of
recent reports on the links between powerlines, radio towers and leukaemia,
additional research into extremely low frequencies and TV/radio tower exposure should
be encouraged.
Recommendation 2.2
The Committee Chair recommends that precautionary measures for the
placement of powerlines be up-graded to include wide buffer zones, and
undergrounding and shielding cables where practicable.
Recommendation 2.3
The Committee recommends that based on a growing body of research
that provides evidence of biological effects, the Commonwealth Government
considers developing material to advise parents and children of the potential
risks associated with mobile phone use.
Recommendation 2.4
The Committee recommends that shielding and hands-free devices are
tested, labelled for their effectiveness and regulated by standards.
Recommendation 2.5
The Committee Chair recommends that the Government review the
Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 1997, and as a
precautionary measure, amend it to enable community groups to have greater
input into the siting of antenna towers and require their installation to go
through normal local government planning processes.
Recommendation 2.6
The Committee recommends the development of an industry code of
practice for handling consumer health complaints.
Recommendation 2.7
The Committee recommends the establishment of a centralised
complaints mechanism in ARPANSA or the Department of Health for people to
report adverse health effects associated with mobile phone use and other
radiofrequency technology, and for the data from this register to be considered
by the NHMRC in determining research funding priorities.
Recommendation 2.8
The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government consider
sponsoring conferences on the health effects of radiofrequency radiation along
similar lines to that conducted on gene technology.
Recommendation 2.9
The Committee Chair recommends that a study into p53 mice
be listed as an area of research for which future research applications should
be encouraged.
Recommendation 3.1
The Committee Chair recommends that the equivalent of $5
for each mobile phone in use be collected annually for this purpose
(approximately $40 million) and that the rate be reviewed after a period of
five years.
Recommendation 3.2
The Committee Chair recommends that funding for
maintaining the NHMRC-administered research program be provided at $4 million
per annum of the $40 million and that the balance be used by the CSIRO to
establish a structured program of research and set up a specialised research
unit for this purpose.
Recommendation 4.1
The Committee Chair recommends that the radiofrequency
standard be defined and administered by a process similar to that used by
Standards Australia.
Recommendation 4.2
The Committee Chair recommends that the level of 200
microwatts per square centimetre in the expired Interim Standard (AS/NZS
2772.1(Int):1998) be retained in the Australian Standard.
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