Environmentalists have called on PM Howard to detail his plans for a nuclear Australia should he be re-elected on Saturday.

 

There will be a presence to protest the Coalition’s continued nuclear secrecy at the PM’s address to the national press club in Canberra today.

 

There is growing Coalition unease over nuclear issues with over 20 MPs and candidates publicly opposing nuclear power in their electorates or in Australia (see below).

 

"It is a classic case of NIMBE politics - Not In Marginals Before Elections", said Friends of the Earth nuclear campaigner, Michaela Stubbs. "The PM and senior Coalition members have consistently avoided the “N” word during this election campaign, but many Coalition members and candidates are declaring the nuclear power option an unpopular lost cause. They have been even more reluctant to discuss the 45,000 tonnes of high-level nuclear waste which would be produced by 25 nuclear reactors."

 

Friends of the Earth are urging all political parties to disclose their nuclear plans ahead of the election and have assessed the nuclear policies and performance of the parties at <www.votenuclearfree.net>. The Coalition has not met any of the 18 key assessment criteria, Labor has scraped a pass and the Greens and Democrats share the highest rating.

 

What: Protest at PM Howards press club address

Where: 16 National Circuit, Canberra

When: From 11am, Thursday 22 November

Why: Because the PM refuses to come clean with the Australian people over his plans for a nuclear future.