Wednesday, 17 January, 2007

by Samantha Maiden, Political correspondent
The Australian

OPPOSITION Leader Kevin Rudd's fight to overturn the Labor Party's ban on new uranium mines has hit a hurdle, with one of his frontbenchers sounding a warning about nuclear terrorism.

As 400 delegates to Labor's April 27-29 national conference prepare to debate the policy change, Opposition water and infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese has warned that the risk of nuclear proliferation in the age of terrorism is greater than ever before.

While delegates will consider changing the national platform to overturn the ban, a draft prepared by party officials has retained the tough anti-uranium line, stating "Labor will prevent on return to government the development of new uranium mines".

Mr Rudd will move a motion at the conference to overturn the policy, first drafted a quarter of a century ago, that allows only the three existing mines - Ranger in the Northern Territory and Beverley and Olympic Dam in South Australia. However, his push will be opposed by sections of the Left, including Mr Albanese.

"The issue of nuclear proliferation in the age of terrorism is more of a concern now than it's ever been," Mr Albanese said yesterday. "I believe Australia is as far into the nuclear fuel cycle as we should be. Whilst the problem of nuclear proliferation and waste remain outstanding we should maintain our opposition to expand the number of uranium mines in Australia."

Opposition transport spokesman Martin Ferguson, a member of another Left faction, remains an outspoken supporter of an expansion of uranium mining.

"Kevin Rudd has made it clear he will sponsor and support the change in uranium policy in accordance with Kim's (Beazley) original position," he said.

"This is the way in which a number of major debates have been dealt with."

Australian Workers Union president Bill Ludwig, who is backing the expansion of uranium mining, said claims of a terrorism risk were nonsense.

"I think the terrorism business, its a bit from left field," he said.

The draft platform submitted to the ALP's policy committee also stresses that the "production of uranium and its use in the nuclear fuel cycle present unique and unprecedented hazards and risk, including threats to human health and the local environment".

It also reasserts Labor's opposition to using uranium in Australia for nuclear power.

"Labor will prohibit the establishment in Australia of nuclear power plants and all other stages of the nuclear power cycle." ACTU president Sharan Burrow said she would leave it to the party to decide.

"We've got a clear policy and we will be leaving the debate to the party. Our prime concern with uranium is the safety issues. The debate around the three mines policy is one for the party."

The Labor manoeuvreing comes after the go-ahead was given 11 days ago for Australia to start exporting uranium to China just months after the two nations ratified nuclear co-operation agreements.

The Howard Government is talking up the need for increases in uranium exports and the possible development of a nuclear energy industry in Australia.