Australia paves the way to sell uranium to Russia
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CANBERRA, March 18 AAP
March 18 2010, 7:19PM
Australia has paved the way to sell uranium to Russia, brushing aside concerns about nuclear spills and military ramifications.
The Howard government cut a deal to start selling uranium for civilian purposes but the treaty has not been ratified.
A 2008 federal parliamentary committee warned against allowing the deal to proceed, saying tougher safeguards were needed on military issues, inspections of power plants, and the risk of nuclear material being stolen.
But the government on Thursday set aside that warning.
In a statement, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said the treaty "provides appropriate safeguards ... (which are) consistent with Australia's long-standing and strict requirements to ensure the peaceful use of Australian uranium".
The government tabled its response to the report in parliament, running through the ways in which the safeguards would ensure the uranium would be used appropriately.
The government's findings take Australia - which has the world's largest uranium reserves - one step closer to exporting to Russia. The statement noted the government was yet to make a final decision.
Australia's nuclear industry is expanding, with the three-mines policy abandoned and two new ones approved.
Some say nuclear power, which has relatively low greenhouse gas emissions, can play a key role in tackling climate change. Others are concerned about waste and accidents.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop called for uranium sales to Russia to start.
"The government should act on the recommendations of the report to allow Australian companies to commence sales of uranium to Russia," she said.
Greens senator Scott Ludlam said the government's finding was insulting and that Russia had an arsenal of 14,000 nuclear weapons.
David Noonan, nuclear-free campaigner with the Australian Conservation Foundation, said Russia should not get Australian uranium.
Mr Noonan said it was not reducing its stockpile fast enough, also raising concerns about environmental damage.
"The military run the civilian nuclear sector in Russia ... our uranium is then supporting and endorsing the Russian military sector," he told AAP on Thursday.
"The military will continue to produce their weapons, and they will have leaks and spills and contamination and fail to manage waste."
By Cathy Alexander, Diplomatic Correspondent
