Scientists reveal secret 1980s nuclear work

The ABC has learned that uranium was secretly being enriched at Sydney's Lucas Heights reactor 20 years ago.
Enriched uranium is the fuel that runs nuclear power stations and can be used to build nuclear weapons.
The ABC's Investigative Unit has revealed that enrichment technology was secretly being developed at Sydney's Lucas Heights reactor during the mid-1980s before the program ran out of money.
Senior staff at Lucas Heights say that at the time they devised a plan to continue their work even after the then-Hawke government moved to shut down the enrichment program.
Nuclear scientist Don Mercer worked on the program and says the research was conducted for Australia's benefit.
"You've thrown technology down the drain which Australia could have used," he said.
"As an Australian I feel very sad that that thing goes on, not because the technology wasn't good enough, or anything but for political reasons, ideological reasons."
Dr Clarence Hardy worked for 20 years at Lucas Heights and says Australia was at the forefront of nuclear technology.
"I don't think anyone at the really high level in the Government understood what we were trying to do, to preserve this technology for the good of the country," he said.
Dr Hardy is now a director of the company Nuclear Fuel Australia and is planning to put a proposal to the Federal Government to build an enrichment plan in Australia.
The ABC understands that possible sites have already been earmarked near Brisbane and near Port Pirie in South Australia.
Federal Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane says he has not been approached about plans to build a commercial nuclear enrichment site in Australia.
Mr Macfarlane says he has not been approached, but would not rule out discussing such a proposal.
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