Saturday, 28 April, 2007

Herald Sun

Labor leader Kevin Rudd has won his battle to dump his party's no new uranium mines policy at the ALP national conference today.

After 90 minutes of passionate debate, the conference voted 205 to 190 to defeat an amendment by Labor frontbenchers Anthony Albanese and Peter Garrett to keep the ban.

Mr Rudd's amendment, seconded by South Australian Premier Mike Rann, to scrap the ban, was then passed on the voices without a formal vote being recorded.

Federal frontbencher Stephen Conroy was the only member of Labor's leadership team to vote with Mr Albanese and Mr Garrett.

Two protesters were kicked out after they pulled out a flag and began shouting slogans at Mr Rudd as he left the conference floor following the vote.