[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: ALP, Family First back government on uranium exports to China: Greens

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 10 May 2006

ALP, Family First back government on uranium exports to China: Greens

Labor and the Family First party today sided with the Howard government
in refusing to oppose and condemn the export of Australian uranium to
China.

Australian Greens energy spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, moved a
motion opposing the sale of Australian uranium to China because it will
directly or indirectly support the Chinese weapons program, in
contravention of Australia's obligations under the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"My motion also asked the Senate to oppose and condemn the export of
uranium to China but the ALP and Family First voted with the government
in opposing the motion," Senator Milne said in Canberra.

"By failing to support the motion, Labor and Family First senators have
given encouragement to the government to continue with its misguided
uranium export policy, which threatens global security and undermines
international law." 

The motion appears below.

Senator Milne to move that the Senate:
	a)	notes that: 
		i.	the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Madam Fu
Ying, stated in December 2005 that China does not have sufficient
uranium for both its weapons and civilian energy programs,
		ii.	Australian yellowcake needs to go to conversion,
enrichment and processing facilities before being allocated to declared
civilian nuclear power stations,
		iii.	most of the conversion, enrichment and
processing facilities are not declared facilities and are therefore not
covered by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, and
		iv.	those facilities that are declared are only
declared at the discretion of the Chinese Government, are therefore are
voluntary and can at any time be removed from IAEA safeguards;

	b)	recognises therefore that by exporting uranium to China,
Australia will be supporting, either directly or indirectly, the Chinese
nuclear weapons program in contravention of the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty; and

	c)	opposes and condemns the export of uranium to China.

Contact: Katrina Willis 02 6277 3063 or 0437 587 562

Katrina Willis
Adviser
Office of Senator Christine Milne
Ph: 03 6234 4566
0437 587562
Fax: 03 6234 2144
www.greens.org.au