Monday, 17 September, 2007

by Christine Milne
The Australian Greens

Australian Greens Climate Change Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today condemned the Howard Government's action in signing up to the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership overnight, without making any public announcement of that act.

Senator Milne said "In the dying days of his Government, John Howard has signed up to George Bush's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership at a meeting in Austria, seemingly without any public statements that he has done so.

"GNEP is a truly Orwellian idea - spreading nuclear technology and resources in the name of preventing nuclear weapons proliferation. It can and will only make the world a more dangerous place by making the ingredients for nuclear weapons available to more countries around the world.

"Having signed onto GNEP with barely a word to the Australian people, John Howard must now come forward and explain what he has signed us up for. Will we now be required to store the world's nuclear waste?

"This is a major public debate in Canada, where fears that becoming a global nuclear waste dump would be a requirement under GNEP have thus far made them hesitate before agreeing to join the club.

"The decision to sign onto the GNEP agreement overnight has put nuclear issues fairly and squarely on the election agenda.

"Kevin Rudd must now step forward and commit to repudiating this agreement if he wins the looming election."