Friday, 1 December, 2006

The Age

A federal parliamentary committee is calling on the states to lift their bans on uranium mining, saying billions in potential exports are under threat.

The House of Representatives committee, which will officially release its report on Monday, has suggested examining the viability of nuclear leasing, The Australian newspaper reports.

Under a leasing scheme Australia would provide uranium to foreign countries and then take back the waste.

The industry and resources committee also raises the possibility of establishing nuclear enrichment plants, using licensed technologies from nations such as France.

A national communications and education strategy was also needed to dispel myths about nuclear energy, the two-year committee study concluded.

Three Labor MPs on the panel have endorsed the report, despite Opposition Leader Kim Beazley's strong opposition of a nuclear future.

Australia has almost 40 per cent of the world's uranium reserves but only accounts for 23 per cent of global production.