Thursday 30 March 2006
By Katharine Murphy, The Age

The Howard Government is facing a new push for nuclear power in Australia as it finalises an agreement to export billions of dollars of uranium to China.

The Age believes that after a year of analysing the uranium industry, Federal Parliament's bipartisan industry and resources committee has sought new authority from the Government to examine the merits of domestic nuclear power.

The request comes as the committee finalises its first report, which is expected to recommend rebuilding Australia's capacity to be a player in the global nuclear industry by establishing new training and research facilities for Australian nuclear physicists.

The push for nuclear power in Australia - which has the world's largest uranium deposits - came as Labor leader Kim Beazley yesterday acknowledged growing debate in the ALP over the future of its 20-year-old three mines policy.

After stinging criticism of the policy in recent days by South Australian Labor Premier Mike Rann, and a continuing campaign by resources spokesman Martin Ferguson to allow more uranium mining, Mr Beazley accepted the issue could be raised at the party's conference.

"Anybody is entitled to move at a Labor Party conference any change to party policy," Mr Beazley said in Canberra. "Be you a premier or an ordinary delegate, you can certainly do that."

Mr Ferguson is expected to make a speech on Friday at a uranium conference reiterating the need for a serious debate in the party over the policy.

Clare Martin, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory - which allows uranium mining - refused to declare her position. But she signalled she would be part of any move to review ALP policy. "I would be part of that change. If I go to national conference and it was to happen, I would make my contribution."

Meanwhile, controversy continued over Australia's looming uranium export deal with China, expected to be unveiled during a visit to Australia next week by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile yesterday denied recent statements by Chinese officials that the agreement would include a formal commitment from Australia allowing more minerals exploration.

Mr Vaile also played down the prospect that Australia would export uranium to India, which has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

This week Prime Minister John Howard again left open the possibility of future uranium sales to India.

But Mr Vaile said: "Our policy on the sale of uranium for use in energy generation for peaceful purposes hasn't changed and is not going to change."

Mr Beazley attacked the idea of exporting uranium to India. He said Mr Howard was "talking about exporting to India without signing up to what should be one of the most fundamental conditions, the Non-Proliferation Treaty".

THREE MINES - LABOR'S STAND

KIM BEAZLEY "Anybody is entitled to move at a Labor Party conference any change to party policy . be you a premier or an ordinary delegate."

MARTIN FERGUSON Supports change, has urged Queensland and WA to consider new uranium mines.

MIKE RANN "I think the three mines policy . will change, will go."

CLARE MARTIN "There are those within the Labor Party, particularly nationally, who would like to see a change of policy."