[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Australia does not need nuclear power

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 17 May 2006

Australia does not need nuclear power 

The Australian Greens today rejected Prime Minister John Howard's
contention that nuclear power might be 'desirable' for Australia and
challenged the government to show true leadership on climate change and
nuclear non-proliferation.

Australian Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Senator
Christine Milne said Prime Minister Howard was playing politics by
floating the idea and testing public opinion before developing a
government position, just as he had done on immigration.

"Instead of pandering to US President George Bush and UK Prime Minister
Tony Blair - the two most unpopular leaders in the world today - Prime
Minister Howard should demonstrate real leadership and put some
authenticity into the government's response to climate change and
terrorism," Senator Milne said in Hobart.

"Nuclear power and nuclear proliferation are a threat to both."

Senator Milne challenged advocates of nuclear power to explain what they
intend to do about nuclear waste, how large a public subsidy they are
prepared to pay to prop up nuclear power, and why the UK Sustainable
Development Commission was wrong when it recommended last month against
expanding nuclear power in Britain.

"Australians have already had to subsidise uranium mining companies to
clean up after mines have closed, while last week's Budget papers
revealed that ANTSO can't estimate the cost of decommissioning the Lucas
Heights nuclear reactor," Senator Milne said.

"When will advocates of nuclear power admit that it is too slow, too
expensive and too dangerous to be a solution to climate change? Nor is
there any safe way to dispose of the waste. It is not even safe to
transport, a concern supported by the head of the International Energy
Agency Claude Mandil.

"It is sad to see Tony Blair using his last days as Prime Minister to be
a mouthpiece for the nuclear power industry that his own Sustainable
Development Commission has rejected as an answer to climate change and
energy security.*

"Instead of turning to nuclear power, Australia should ratify the Kyoto
Protocol, invest in renewable energy, adopt a national energy efficiency
target and improve public transport.

"Several studies examining options to achieve deep cuts in Australian
greenhouse emissions all show this goal can be achieved, cost
effectively, without resorting to nuclear power."


The report of the UK Sustainable Development Commission can be read at: 
http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/060306.html

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