[Greens-Media] Howard invites Indonesia to become nuclear power - Greens

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Monday 22 May 2006

Howard invites Indonesia to become nuclear power - Greens

The Prime Minister's advocacy of an expanded nuclear industry in
Australia sends a message of approval for Indonesia to become a nuclear
power too, Greens leader Bob Brown said today.

"Australia and our region are essentially nuclear-free. Mr Howard is
abandoning that security to grab uranium profits and facilitate an
Australian role in nuclear enrichment," Senator Brown said.

"This robs Australia of its moral strength to argue against Indonesia
resurrecting the Soeharto plan for 12 nuclear reactors and to advance
its interest in Russian-built floating nuclear power stations."

"This will make our region much less secure for the next generation of
Australians," Senator Brown said.

"John Howard has talked up regional terrorism. Now he is promoting
nuclear power proliferation in our neighbourhood. At best his logic is
faulty, at worst he is taking Australia into a future unnecessarily
menaced by the nuclear threat," Senator Brown said.


Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603


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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au