Thursday 16 March 2006
ABC NT Local News

A committee advising the Federal Resources Minister on uranium is meeting in Darwin today to draft its recommendations.

The Uranium Industry Streering Group includes representatives of Australia's biggest uranium companies, industry associations and various governments.

Its chairman John White says members have been consulting the community for the past six months on how to expand a sustainable, safe and competitive nuclear industry.

Mr White says it is too early to flesh out what the group will recommend to the Minister in August.

"It's a bit early and we shouldn't steal the thunder of the Minister for when he launches it, but we are looking at ways of improving sustainability and competitiveness and the understanding by the public of the industry," he said

But Mr White says the committee will not be looking at whether Australia should trade with India and China.

"What we do take a look at though are the international safeguards and treaties and requirements for absolute safety and compliance in terms of the lifecycle of the uranium that comes from Australia," he said.