[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE - Prime Minister Howard's nuclear push makes world less safe: Greens

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 31 August 2006

PM Howard's nuclear push makes world less safe: Greens

The Australian Greens today called on Prime Minister John Howard to
abandon his push for uranium enrichment and possible nuclear power in
Australia in light of a major new report on the security implications of
this dangerous venture.

Australian Greens energy spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said the
report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) today
supported the concerns expressed by the Greens, environment groups and
proliferation experts that by enriching uranium and adding more nuclear
material to the global supply, Australia would fuel regional and
international insecurity.

"There is no benefit for anyone in Australia adding to the world's
burden of nuclear material," Senator Milne said in Hobart.

"The growing concern about Iran's nuclear capabilities demonstrates that
a nation determined to become nuclear weapons capable will ignore the
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the IAEA safeguards, and
provoke an international crisis.

"Prime Minister Howard needs to abandon his ill-conceived pursuit of a
uranium enrichment industry for Australia.  

"A weakness in the ASPI report is that it does not consider in detail
the problem of the illegal acquisition of fissile or radioactive
materials by terrorist organisations despite regular reports of the
embezzlement, theft, or smuggling of nuclear materials from nuclear
facilities. 

"Claims by backers of an Australian enrichment industry that the nation
stands to lose up to $US3 billion a year if it rejects uranium
enrichment are self-serving and fail to take account of the enormous
environmental and strategic security risks.

"Nuclear power is dirty, dangerous, and too slow to help the world deal
with climate change with the urgency needed. 

"Australia could play a much more constructive role by strengthening,
not undermining, the nuclear NPT by leaving uranium in the ground and
instead developing and exporting renewable energy and energy efficiency
technologies."


Contact: Katrina Willis 03 6234 4566 or 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