Senator Christine Milne

ALP, Family First back government on uranium  exports to China: Greens

Senator Milne, 10th May 2006

Labor and the Family First party today sided with the Howard government in refusing  to oppose and condemn the export of Australian uranium to China.

Australian Greens energy spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, moved a motion  opposing the sale of Australian uranium to China because it will directly or indirectly  support the Chinese weapons program, in contravention of Australia's obligations

under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"My motion also asked the Senate to oppose and condemn the export of uranium to  China but the ALP and Family First voted with the government in opposing the  motion," Senator Milne said in Canberra.

"By failing to support the motion, Labor and Family First senators have given  encouragement to the government to continue with its misguided uranium export  policy, which threatens global security and undermines international law."

The motion appears below.

Senator Milne to move that the Senate:

a. notes that:   i. the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Madam Fu Ying, stated  in December 2005 that China does not have sufficient uranium  for both its weapons and civilian energy programs,   ii. Australian yellowcake needs to go to conversion, enrichment

and processing facilities before being allocated to declared  civilian nuclear power stations,   iii. most of the conversion, enrichment and processing facilities are  not declared facilities and are therefore not covered by

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, and   iv. those facilities that are declared are only declared at the  discretion of the Chinese Government, are therefore are

voluntary and can at any time be removed from IAEA  safeguards;  b. recognises therefore that by exporting uranium to China, Australia will  be supporting, either directly or indirectly, the Chinese nuclear  weapons program in contravention of the nuclear Non-Proliferation  Treaty; and   c. opposes and condemns the export of uranium to China.

Contact: Katrina Willis 02 6277 3063 or 0437 587 562

Created by Administration   Last modified 10-05-2006 07:41 PM

