As from 1 July 1972, the Commonwealth X-ray and Radium Laboratory (CA 2467) was known as the Commonwealth Radiation Laboratory, a name considered more appropriate to its existing functions. The laboratory offers advisory services in the physical aspects of medical radiology including radiotherapy, and the physical and chemical aspects of nuclear medicine. It also maintains standards for the precise measurement of ionising radiations, and of radio-active substances; procures and distributes all radiopharmaceuticals used in Australia for diagnostic investigations and treatment of patients; maintains a surveillance of levels of radioactivity in the Australian environment and provides a consultative service on the protection of people against ionising radiations, laser radiation and microwave radiation.  
The central procurement function for the purchase and distribution of radio-pharmaceuticals will cease on 31 December 1977.
 
The agencies activities include a film badge service which issues film badges to people working with ionising radiation to permit assessment of the doses of radiation received by them in their work. The agency also produces radon from radium, gives advice on the planning of X-ray departments particularly for hospitals in the Australian Territories, acts as the agent for the C.S.I.R.O. under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act to maintain national standards for the measurements of X-rays and of radio nuclides, and in December 1973 the Fall-Out Studies Unit [Environmental Radiation Service] was
transferred from the Department of Science to the Department of Health and was integrated with the laboratory.
 
In 1973, the Commonwealth Radiation Laboratory became known as the Australian Radiation Laboratory.
 
Correspondence was addressed to 36 Lonsdale St Melbourne, but the laboratories occupied a total of seven buildings - four in Lonsdale St and buildings in Spring St, the Melbourne University, and at Maribyrnong. In 1978 the laboratory moved to Yallambie.

In February 1999, the Australian Radiation Laboratory merged with the Nuclear Safety Bureau in Sydney and became known as the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.
 
Sources:
Director-General of Health, Annual Report for the Year 1971-1972, p.90-92.
Director General of Health, Annual Report for Year 1973-1974, p. 86-90.
Historical agency address
36 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Previous agency unregistered

1973: Fall-Out Studies Unit, Department of Science