[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: South Australia to join Chinese nuclear weapons program 'within months'

[Greens]

Media Release

4 September 2006

Today's statement by ANSO Director General John Carlson that Australia
could begin uranium exports to China 'within months' has placed the
spotlight back on the potential for South Australian uranium to help
drive the Chinese nuclear weapons program, says Greens MLC Mark Parnell.


In an address to a Senate committee inquiry into the proposed sale of
uranium to China, the Director General of the Australian Safeguards and
Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) has stated that 'in principle we could
have uranium going into China in the first half of next year'.

With much of the exported uranium likely to come from our State, 2007
may mark the year South Australia becomes a key player in the Chinese
nuclear weapons program, said Mr Parnell.

"If we choose to take the short-term profits from nuclear export sales,
we must accept our long-term responsibilities.  Effectively, South
Australian uranium exports will contribute to the production of Chinese
nuclear weapons.

"China does not have enough uranium for both its civil and military
nuclear programs, therefore Australian uranium exports frees up China's
limited domestic reserves for the production of nuclear weapons. 

 "Whether or not South Australian uranium goes directly into Chinese
nuclear warheads, or is used in power stations in lieu of uranium going
into nuclear warheads makes little difference.  

"Either way we will be in it up to our necks. To argue otherwise is
being tricky and disingenuous," he said.


For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893





---------------------------------------------------------------------
"The information in this e-mail may be confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, access to it is unauthorised and any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful."