Tuesday, 11 September, 2007

Sydney Morning Herald

Labor and the minor parties have failed in an attempt to refer Australia's deal to export uranium to Russia to a parliamentary committee.

Australia and Russia made a nuclear cooperation agreement during the APEC summit that will allow Russia to buy Australian uranium for its expanding atomic energy program.

In the Senate on Tuesday, the Australian Greens moved a motion to refer the deal to a joint standing committee to examine the ramifications of the agreement and the risk that the uranium would be sold to a third party.

Despite Labor, the Australian Democrats and Family First Senator Steve Fielding supporting the motion, it was defeated 34 votes to 31.