[Greens-Media] Has Howard made Australia Asia's nuclear mine, enricher and dump?

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Has Howard made Australia Asia's nuclear mine, enricher and dump?

Canberra, Friday June 15, 2007

Australian Greens Climate Change Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne,
is today calling on the Government to be open with the Australian people
about their nuclear plans and whether they have committed Australia to a
role as Asia's nuclear mine, enricher and waste dump.

"The Howard Government is on record investigating the establishment of
an Asian equivalent of EURATOM, managing the supply of uranium, its
enrichment and its waste dump for Asia.

"What has Prime Minister Howard promised his APEC counterparts,
including President Bush, that he is keeping secret from the Australian
people? What has he promised the companies seeking to develop enrichment
technology in Australia that he is keeping secret from the Australian
people? Has he been talking to Urenco, the world's biggest nuclear
enrichment company?

"Minister Macfarlane has called repeatedly for a debate on nuclear
technology. But there is a clear pattern emerging that the Government is
moving ahead with plans to develop the industry without telling the
Australian people.

"The worst possible outcome is for Australians to wake up the morning
after returning a Howard Government and find that plans are well
advanced for turning our country into a regional nuclear flashpoint.

"Enrichment technology is used equally for weapons production and fuel
production. They two cannot be separated. Australia's enrichment plans
were sensibly stopped 20 years ago due to concerns that they would fuel
a regional arms race. Today, those concerns are even more serious."

Contact Tim Hollo on 0437 587 562

Tim Hollo
Media and Communications Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone: + 61 (0) 2 6277 3063
Mobile: + 61 (0) 437 587 562
Email: tim.hollo at aph.gov.au
Skype: timhollo
Website: www.christinemilne.org.au