Howard must rule out uranium exports to India: Greens
Prime Minister John Howard must immediately rule out permitting uranium exports to India, Australian Greens energy
spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said today.
"All Australians should be alarmed about reports that senior Australian officials have told India that the Howard
government is prepared to permit the sale of uranium while India remains outside the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT)," Senator Milne said in Canberra.
"Prime Minister Howard has said that India has a good non-proliferation record since it exploded a nuclear weapon 30
years ago. However, a recent report by the US-based Institute of Science and International Security details a well
developed and active Indian program to outfit its uranium enrichment program and to circumvent other countries' export
control efforts.
"By exporting uranium to India, Australia would be granting the same access to uranium as is permitted for non-nuclear
weapon states that fully comply with the NPT, but with fewer safeguards than apply under the treaty.
"This would seriously undermine the NPT and jeopardise regional security. It would also violate the treaty governing the
Nuclear Suppliers Group, of which Australia is a signatory, which prohibits exports of nuclear materials to any country
without full-scope safeguards.
"Therefore, Prime Minister Howard must rule out permitting Australian uranium to be exported to India."
The Greens oppose nuclear power because of the risks of accidents, the problem of storing radioactive waste, and the
risk of nuclear weapons proliferation. Nuclear power is not an answer to climate change because it is too slow, too
expensive, too dangerous and is not sustainable.