Wednesday, 28 February, 2007

ABC Radio Australia

Australia's foreign affairs minister, Alexander Downer, says Australia's uranium exports are expected to be worth $US550 million this financial year.

He says that is enough to power almost 50 nuclear reactors and produce two per cent of global electricity.

Mr Downer has also used question time to attack the opposition's objections to a nuclear power industry in Australia, while supporting uranium exports.

"What does the Leader of the Opposition think that this uranium is going to be used for?," he said.

"Flourescent faced watches or something like that? Lava lamps?

"To pave the streets of Paris ... or Beijing dare I say it?

"The contradiction, if I may say so, the hypocrisy of the leader of the opposition's position is obvious for all to see."