[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE - Govt concerns over N-Koreaand nuclear black market ring hollow

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Saturday, 19 August 2006

Govt concerns over N-Korea and nuclear black market ring hollow

The Australian government's concerns over North Korea and a black market
in nuclear materials cannot be taken seriously as long as the government
continues its push to expand uranium mining and establish an enrichment
and waste dump industry, the Australian Greens said today

"The news overnight that North Korea may be preparing for underground
nuclear bomb testing should send a clear signal to the Australian
government to back off its push to fuel the global nuclear cycle,"
Australian Greens energy spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said.

"It is absolute hypocrisy for Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to claim
that Australia has been a 'forthright advocate' for strengthening
international nuclear controls and safeguards when it is actively
supporting the US in undermining the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by
selling nuclear technology to India.

"As if that were not bad enough, Australia and the US are cooperating to
fly in the face of the United Nations' call for a moratorium on any
further nuclear enrichment.

"Prime Minister John Howard is taking Australia on a very dangerous path
by wagging a finger at North Korea and Iran while his government
salivates at the profits to be gained by Australia developing a nuclear
industry.

"Until the Australian government abandons its plans for a nuclear
industry in Australia, its stated concerns about a black market in
nuclear technology cannot be taken seriously.

"It is clear that current safeguard agreements and regulatory controls
have failed to constrain the black market already established in nuclear
technology. This is illustrated by the case of the Pakistani scientist A
Q Khan, who sold technology to Libya, Iran and North Korea.

"Australians want a safer world and they want our nation to use its
unique position with 40 per cent of the world's uranium reserves to
leave the uranium in the ground and become a legitimate and powerful
voice for global non-proliferation."


Contact: Katrina Willis 0437 587 562


Katrina Willis
Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone 03 6234 4566
Fax 03 6234 2144
Mobile 0437 587 562
www.christinemilne.org.au