Thursday 16 March 2006
Adrienne Francis, ABC NT Country Hour

Managing public opinion is certainly one item on the agenda of the Uranium Industry Framework group meeting in Darwin today. The Federal Government established the framework to provide recommendations on how to grow the industry in the future. Those taking part include all the uranium mining companies active in Australia, government regulators, indigenous stakeholders and environmental interests. Independent chair John White says the aim will be to reach agreement on controversial uranium policy.

"The fact is that some of the views are needing to be re-assessed today because the world environment has changed. One of the greatest risks facing the world is climate change due to the burning of fossil fuels and nuclear power has progressed enormously since then and is arguably very safe. I think there is need to re-assess the possibilities. There's no discussion of nuclear power being installed in Australia. The fact is that nuclear power is expanding in many other parts of the world and it is a cleaner way of producing energy. Nobody is forcing anything on anybody, but we are keen to have consultation and assessment. We are looking at the regulations that govern the industry to ensure they are consistent between states and federal and well implemented and match world best standards."

"We are also looking at impediments. The nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NNT) is not really our focus. The treaty is one of those things that the industry must comply with. We are not looking at overcoming the treaty. We expect that to be a decision by Federal Government. Royalties are one of the other issues and they do differ from place to place and there is no certainty over what they will be in the future and that effects investment. Our recommendations are aimed at achieving world class standards and competitiveness. We will be looking to make the industry even better and then it stands on it's own merits.

It's then the role of Governments to assess the opportunities for their states, the opportunity to play a responsible and significant role in the world which is screaming out for clean fuel to power their own economic and social development. It is going to be a very hard thing for Australia looking forward several decades as greenhouse issues mount. It will be very hard for states to refuse under the request of the international community." Mr White's own business is 'Global Renewables', a recycling business.