[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Howard must rule out uranium exports to India: Greens

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 11 May 2006

Howard must rule out uranium exports to India: Greens

Prime Minister John Howard must immediately rule out permitting uranium
exports to India, Australian Greens energy spokesperson Senator
Christine Milne said today.

"All Australians should be alarmed about reports that senior Australian
officials have told India that the Howard government is prepared to
permit the sale of uranium while India remains outside the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," Senator Milne said in Canberra.

"Prime Minister Howard has said that India has a good non-proliferation
record since it exploded a nuclear weapon 30 years ago. However, a
recent report by the US-based Institute of Science and International
Security details a well developed and active Indian program to outfit
its uranium enrichment program and to circumvent other countries' export
control efforts. 

"By exporting uranium to India, Australia would be granting the same
access to uranium as is permitted for non-nuclear weapon states that
fully comply with the NPT, but with fewer safeguards than apply under
the treaty.

"This would seriously undermine the NPT and jeopardise regional
security. It would also violate the treaty governing the Nuclear
Suppliers Group, of which Australia is a signatory, which prohibits
exports of nuclear materials to any country without full-scope
safeguards.

"Therefore, Prime Minister Howard must rule out permitting Australian
uranium to be exported to India."

The Greens oppose nuclear power because of the risks of accidents, the
problem of storing radioactive waste, and the risk of nuclear weapons
proliferation. Nuclear power is not an answer to climate change because
it is too slow, too expensive, too dangerous and is not sustainable. 


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