Tuesday, 25 July, 2006

ABC News Online

About 70 protesters have gathered outside a hotel in Fremantle in Western Australia where the nuclear industry is holding a uranium conference.

Around 300 delegates from across Australia and overseas are attending the second annual Australian Uranium Conference.

The aim of the conference is to discuss the latest developments in the uranium and nuclear industries on a global level.

The conference comes one day after Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley announced he wants to scrap Labor's no new uranium mines policy.

Mr Beazley has proposed new mines be allowed under tough terms and conditions.

Fremantle Anti-nuclear Group spokesman Benedict Coyne says Mr Beazley has let the country down.

"The majority of grassroots support in the Labor Party is opposed to nuclear expansion in the nuclear industry," he said.

"He's pandering to the nuclear industry, he's falling in line behind [Prime Minister John] Howard.

"Basically it's a very dirty technology because of all the greenhouse emissions involved in the extraction and transportation processes."