Friday 24 February 2006
NT News

PRIME Minister John Howard's attempts to embrace nuclear power are an attempt to help BHP Billiton export uranium to China and India, the Australian Greens said today.

Mr Howard told a financial newspaper today that "he had no hang-ups at all" about taking advantage of nuclear energy when it was economically viable.

"I can't for the life of me understand why (Opposition Leader Kim) Beazley has categorically ruled it out," he said.

Greens senator Christine Milne said today Australia should be alarmed to find Mr Howard supporting nuclear power straight after US President George W Bush began moves to push US nuclear technology to the subcontinent.

Senator Milne said it was clear Mr Howard was backing BHP Billiton's attempts to expand its uranium mining project in South Australia for export to China and India.

"India is a non-signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty," she said.

"It is illegal to be selling uranium to India.

"And yet we have George Bush rushing to India next week to talk up the sale of US nuclear reactor technology followed quickly by John Howard who is going to talk up uranium."

Senator Milne said nuclear power would not solve Australia's energy needs.

"Australia needs to massively move to investment in renewable energy," she said.

"The technology is available right now, nuclear isn't."