[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: 'Leasing' uranium for nuclear fuel a sleight of hand to undermine treaty

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 15 May 2006

'Leasing' uranium for nuclear fuel a sleight of hand to undermine treaty

Turning Australia into a dumping ground for spent nuclear fuel from
India is unacceptable. If there is no safe disposal, there is no
justification for mining in the first place, Australian Greens energy
spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said today.

Senator Milne challenged the federal government to name just where in
Australia it intended to store any spent nuclear fuel from India, China,
or anywhere else.

"Prime Minister John Howard and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile should
stop talking in code and admit that the motivation behind discussions
with the US on the lease proposal is pure and simply to circumvent the
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which prevents the export of
uranium and nuclear technology to India," Senator Milne said in Hobart

"As such Australians should reject it.

"The Greens have longed campaigned for cradle-to-grave responsibility,
from plastic bottles to uranium. That is why when there is no safe
disposal for nuclear waste it is irresponsible to generate the product
in the first place.

"The world is already beset by terrorism. Nuclear waste on the high seas
is a frightening prospect. 

"Our Pacific neighbours have already declared the Pacific to be nuclear
free. We should respect that.

"What does it say about Australia that our government gets excited about
an economy founded on digging up and dumping down holes?

"Prime Minister Howard should name the postcode he has in mind for
storing the high-level nuclear waste."


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