[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE - Minister Downer paves way for Aust to rip up nuclear weapons treaty

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 26 September 2006

Minister Downer paves way for Aust to rip up nuclear weapons treaty

The Australian Greens today warned that the Howard government would be
responsible for feeding regional instability and a nuclear arms race if
it agreed to sell uranium to India.

Greens energy spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer is following Prime Minister John Howard in preparing
the way for Australia to rip up the global treaty aimed at ending the
proliferation of nuclear weapons.

"Foreign Minister Downer's comments today indicate that the Australian
government is paving the way to abandon its policy of not selling
uranium to India because of its poor track record on nuclear weapons and
refusal to be part of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),"
Senator Milne said in Hobart.

"Minister Downer says the inspection arrangements that form part of the
US deal to sell nuclear technology to India, which the US Congress is
considering this week, may be a suitable substitute for the NPT, thereby
allowing Australia to abandon its policy commitment to the NPT.

"These are weasel words. The proposed inspection regime for the US-India
deal will place India's military reactors off limits, giving tacit
approval for business as usual away from international scrutiny.

"The government cannot hide behind the excuse of helping India deal with
climate change. The European experience this summer, when nuclear
reactors had to be shut down because of high temperatures and water
shortages, demonstrates that climate change makes nuclear power
untenable.

"It is hard to understand why, at a time of rapidly diminishing global
security and escalating nuclear proliferation, including in the Middle
East, this government would abandon support for the nuclear NPT.

"Australia should be helping India meet its energy needs through energy
efficiency and renewable energy such as solar power."


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