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Inquiry Divided On Mobile
Phone Hazard
West Australian
May 04, 2001
Mobile
phone users should pay a $5 levy each year to raise money for research into
whether the phones emit harmful radiation, the Australian Democrats said today.
The recommendation was contained in a sharply divided report released today on
the possible harmful effects of radiation from mobile phones.
The report left users little wiser on the contentious and much-studied issue.
Although the Senate inquiry found no conclusive evidence as to health effects,
its chairwoman was adamant more research was needed and also scolded the
telecommunications industry for having little interest in potential health
risks.
Democrats Senator Lyn Allison called for all mobile phone users to be hit with
the $5 annual levy to raise $40 million for research on the issue.
She said the year-long inquiry had shown that Australian standards, based on the
heat output of mobile phones, were inadequate.
There was a growing body of evidence that even low-level radiation, with
virtually no heat output, could change and damage biological systems.
But Senator Allison's report failed to gain the support of either the government
or the opposition.
Liberal Senator John Tierney, the inquiry's deputy chairman, said Senator
Allison's report was little more than a scare campaign.
"We take the view, in line with the internationally accepted position,
there is no conclusive evidence at this stage the level of exposure received
from mobile phones of any health effects," he said.
"This inquiry has been a complete waste of time.
"The reality is, there is no conclusive evidence that using mobile phones
has any effect that is negative."
Senator Allison urged that the bulk of proposed Australian research be handled
by the CSIRO.
She also criticised the telecommunications industry for having little
inclination to look into safety in the technology.
"The telecommunications industry has shown no interest in developing safer
mobile phone or transmitter technology," she said.
"It has shown no interest in allowing people to make a choice which might
minimise the health risk and it continues to promote mobile phones to children
who are likely to be more vulnerable than the rest of the population."
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) said the findings
should reassure the public.
"The inquiry found no substantiated scientific evidence of health effects
from mobile phones and their base stations that comply with strict safety
guidelines," AMTA chief executive Ross Monaghan said in a statement.
"This is consistent with other recent government and expert reviews
internationally, including the landmark review completed by the World Health
Organisation last year."
Mr Monaghan said AMTA supported the continuation of the National Health and
Medical Research Council research program, paid for by an industry levy, but did
not support an additional, separate tax on mobile phone users.
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