No to nuke club: ALP
Thursday, 26 July, 2007
by George Lekakis
Herald Sun
Shadow minister for resources and energy Chris Evans believes plans for Australia to join the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership could end up hurting local uranium miners.
Prime Minister John Howard is considering whether Australia should join the US-led energy partnership which aims to promote nuclear power in developing countries while also preventing the growth of nuclear weapons.
GNEP is proposing to implement a nuclear fuel leasing policy that imposes obligations on countries that enrich uranium to manage waste from their nuclear power customers.
Mr Howard last week moved to quell concerns about the possibility of Australia having to receive nuclear waste from other countries under GNEP, arguing that the partnership had not finalised its policies and standards.
He also noted that GNEP's proposal on nuclear waste responsibilities applied only to countries that enriched uranium.
But Senator Evans, speaking at the Australian Uranium conference in Fremantle, warned that GNEP could have far-reaching consequences for local uranium miners, all of which have no involvement in enrichment.
"We have no interest in being involved in those sorts of initiatives," Senator Evans said.
"Despite what the Prime Minister says, the whole basis of that partnership, the whole basis of that idea, is that countries take responsibility for their waste.
"We don't accept the argument that as an exporter we should be required to take back the waste product from Australian uranium. We don't do it in any other industries."
Senator Evans' comments on the GNEP were made after he addressed the conference on the relaxation of Federal Labor's policy on the export of Australian uranium.
The reform of the Federal ALP policy is being undermined by the West Australian and Queensland state governments, both of which are refusing to lift restrictions on new uranium activities.
Senator Evans said policy stances of the WA and Queensland Labor governments would change in time.
"I think in the long term they will not be able to sustain that position," he said.
But Senator Evans ruled out the possibility of a Labor federal government trying to override the Beattie and Carpenter governments on the sensitive issue.
"I think the decision of the national conference was a momentous one. I think it has removed a significant barrier to uranium mining in Australia and I think it has added pressure for the state governments to review their positions, " he said.
"It's not for me to put pressure, I think the reality is that pressure will grow as they (premiers Peter Beattie and Alan Carpenter) see developments ocurring in other states and as public opinion moves."
Most mining companies believe it is only a matter of time before the WA government lifts its ban on issuing new uranium mining permits.
Managing director of Sino-Australian uranium explorer Dragon Energy Xu Gang said: "I would think in five years or 10 years the market will have its own decision and politicians will follow that fundamental".
Peter McNally, the head of project development at Mega Uranium, said he respected the existing policies in Queensland and WA where his company had advanced projects.
"But we do expect them to reconsider those policies prior to future elections or maybe after future elections."
Senator Evans warned the softening of the ALP uranium policy did not signal a lowering of safeguards.
"The reality is they (uranium miners) have to prove to be good corporate citizens and that they can operate safely and that the products they are producing are not going into nuclear weapons," he said.
"I think it is important that those players coming into the market understand that."