Wednesday, 9 August, 2006

by Samantha Maiden, Political correspondent
The Australian

KIM Beazley has stared down a frontbench rebellion over his plans to dump the ALP's no new uranium mines policy, amid fears it could encourage hardliners to vote Green.

At the first meeting of the Opposition front bench since the Labor leader flagged plans to overhaul the policy, Anthony Albanese, Tanya Plibersek and Alan Griffin raised concerns over the strategy.

Mr Albanese, a Left powerbroker, warned Mr Beazley that the pro-uranium push was bad politics and bad policy, signalling he would oppose the shift when it was debated at next year's ALP national conference.

Mr Griffin warned that if the ALP dumped too many "iconic" issues, such as protecting forests and opposing new uranium mines, it risked alienating traditional supporters and losing preferences from Greens voters that could help deliver government.

High-profile recruit Peter Garrett spoke out on the issue at a caucus meeting yesterday, saying Aboriginal communities should be consulted over plans to open new uranium mines.

Former ACTU president Jennie George also challenged Mr Beazley, saying the arguments did not stack up for a change in policy.

However, Mr Beazley told MPs he was determined to push ahead with the policy change while acknowledging there were "different views".

He said he would also work to "restore credibility" to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, as he considers laying the groundwork to boost Australia's uranium exports.

He said the positive way the debate had been handled showed Labor was "fit to govern".