KIM Beazley has cleared the way for an expansion of uranium mining, claiming federal Labor would not shut any new mines approved by state or federal governments before it comes to power.
The Opposition Leader, whose party is deeply divided on the issues of uranium mining and nuclear power, said yesterday he did not support new uranium mines beyond the three currently operating in Australia.

But he said to protect and encourage investment in the mining industry, a federal Labor government would not close any new uranium mines opened before it won office.

"We would not impose on the mining industry a sovereign risk issue," Mr Beazley said. "(Our) policy says that, when Labor comes into office federally, whatever mines are in operation, they will be sustained."

But he warned supporters of the expansion of the industry - such as ALP resources spokesman Martin Ferguson and Queensland trade union powerbroker Bill Ludwig - that Australia was as far into uranium mining "as we want to be".

He also categorically ruled out Australia moving to nuclear power, saying the world had not resolved proliferation risks and the issue of radioactive waste.

Mr Beazley's commitment would effectively allow Australia to have any number of uranium mines beyond the three in operation - Ranger in the Northern Territory and Olympic Dam and Beverley in South Australia.

A fourth site - Honeymoon in South Australia - secured construction approval from the previous state Liberal government. And the state's current Labor Government is allowing that site to proceed despite the fact that it technically breaches the national ALP's "three mines" policy.

Premier Mike Rann has mounted the same arguments as Mr Beazley - that stopping a previously approved uranium mine would send a strong signal to the resources sector not to invest because of regulatory uncertainty.

Labor and the Howard Government yesterday backed uranium exports to China. However, Peter Costello said any attempt by a sovereign government to buy Australian uranium deposits raised "whole new policy questions" and would need to be carefully scrutinised.

China and Australia are negotiating a safeguards agreement allowing for uranium to be bought by Beijing and potentially allowing Chinese resources companies to explore in Australia.

But the Treasurer, in China, said there was "no need" for China to buy directly into Australian uranium mines because it could get what it needed from Australian suppliers.