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NON-PROLIFERATION BILL WILL CLOSE AUSTRALIAN URANIUM'S ROAD INTO NUCLEAR WEAPONS - SANDERS

Australian Democrat's Nuclear spokesperson Senator Norm Sanders   said that his Nuclear Non-Proliferation Bill which was introduced   into the Senate today could put an end to the use of Australian   uranium in weapons.

He said the implementation of the real safeguards in the Bill was   essential to replace the Government's 'safeguards’  regime which   had been totally discredited.

"The information released by me in recent months has shown that   the present 'safeguards' are a bureaucratic farce. They do not   and cannot prevent atoms of Australian uranium ending in French   and other weapons."

"The new regime proposed in the Bill is specifically designed for   the present ALP Government.  It implements the intent of ALP   policy by allowing the nuclear industry to continue, while being   strongly anti-weapons.

"The Bill does not represent an attempt to follow Democrat policy   which remains totally opposed to the mining and export of   uranium.  My legislation is simply an attempt to do the work that   this Government has irresponsibly or incompetently refused to do.

"If the Government is at all serious about non-proliferation and its other nuclear policies, it must support   this Bill. This legislation is the minimum position required to   ensure a proper safeguards regime,  " Senator Sanders continued.

Senator Sanders said that the Bill had a number of important   features.  These included putting control of uranium exports and   safeguards in the hands of Parliament and allowing it to:

* Prohibit exports to any country that has not signed the   non-proliferation treaty or;

* Has not signed or ratified a safeguards agreement with   Australia or has withdrawn from such agreements or;

* Does not accept safeguards on all its nuclear facilities or;

* Is planning to test or build nuclear weapons or is planning to   obtain, produce,  sell or use uranium enriched to 20 per cent or   more of isotope U-235 or U-233 or;

* Does not prohibit 'originr swaps or;

* Does not prohibit exports to or flag-swaps with countries  breaching any of these conditions.

"In effect the Bill will stop exports to all nuclear weapons  countries and prohibit the present flag-swapping with South  African and Namibian uranium.  Finland and possibly Sweden would  be the only countries eligible to receive Australian uranium."  Senator Sanders said.

He said that the Bill was the first Australian legislation  providing controls over the export of uranium and brought  Australia into line with the U.S. which has had such legislation  since 1978.

"At present, conditions of export can be changed at whim by  executive degree, as was demonstrated by the recent Government  decision on sales to France.

"The new regime will put controls where they belong:  in the hands  of people elected by the Australian Government."

Further information: Norm Sanders] Chris Harris] (062) 727690/691

Richard Bolt (03) 614 3792

