Saturday, 28 April, 2007

Adelaide Advertiser

PRIME Minister John Howard today promised to remove all excessive restrictions on mining, processing and exporting of Australian uranium as a possible step to embarking on domestic nuclear power generation.

Mr Howard said expert advice to the government clearly showed Australia was giving up a major economic opportunity as a result of the excessive barriers on uranium mining and export.

He said a key theme of that advice was that Australia should do what it could to expand uranium exports and remove unnecessary barriers that were impeding efficient operation and growth of the industry.

"In light of the significance of global climate change and as the world's largest holder of uranium reserves, Australia has a clear responsibility to develop its uranium resources in a sustainable way – irrespective of whether or not we end up using nuclear power," he said in a statement.

Mr Howard said nuclear energy was a fact of life and a key source of clean energy in 30 countries across Europe, Asia and North America.

It already supplied 15 per cent of the world's electricity and was set to grow.

"I am announcing today a new strategy for the future development of uranium mining and nuclear power in Australia," he said.

"The government will implement this strategy to increase uranium exports and to prepare for a possible expansion of the nuclear industry in Australia."
Mr Howard said the government's strategy would involve some immediate steps.

The government will move to remove unnecessary constraints on expansion of uranium mining, such as overlapping and cumbersome regulations relating to the mining and transport of uranium ore.

It will also make a firm commitment to Australia's participation in the Generation IV advanced nuclear reactor research program.

Mr Howard said the government would develop an appropriate nuclear energy regulatory regime including measures to govern any future potential nuclear energy facilities in Australia.

The government will also move to lift skills and technical training to address for a possible expanded nuclear energy industry and embark on enhanced research and development.

It will also embark on an information campaign to explain to the nation what needs to be done and why.

Mr Howard said relevant ministers and their departments were to start this work immediately and to report to Cabinet by around September.

Work plans are to be implemented in 2008, he said.

"The government's next step will be to repeal commonwealth legislation prohibiting nuclear activities, including the relevant provisions of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This will be addressed soon," he said.

"My government's strategy is in response to the findings of three major recent reports and inquiries into the complex issues relating to uranium mining and nuclear power."

Mr Howard said Australia had 36 per cent of the world's low cost uranium reserves.

"Policies or political platforms that seek to constrain the development of a safe and reliable Australian uranium industry – and which rule out the possibility of climate-friendly nuclear energy – are not really serious about addressing climate change in a practical way that does not strangle the Australian economy," he said.