Deputy Leader of the Opposition Â·

SPEECH BY TOM UREN, M.P. DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION  AT UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ON MONDAY 17th OCTOBER 1977.

Today.y I. want to talk about the anti-uranium m o v e m e n t ,- .

rather than about the many problems associated with the

commitment of A u s t ralia’s uranium to the world nuclear fuel

cycle.

The anti-uranium movement in Australia has grown at a very

fast rate. It is made up of support from all sections of the

community, particularly the young and the progressive people

of all generations.

I ’m sure its growth has surprised the mining companies and

the Fraser Government.

I know it has the admiration of the anti-nuclear movement

.  overseas.  There, is even the potential for an international

alliance of the people to halt the spread of the nuclear fuel

cycle. As an aside, I would also mention that the European

anti-nuclear movement does not yet have the degree of trade

union and political party support that the anti-uranium

movemefl$^4ia-sL--in -Au-s#rad.titai^Â±-‘- -

Here^r-thetSantri-uranimmimovemenitoliashhadhthetbehieidutj of :  suppb.jP t-u ;4.

from a large body Of progressive"trade unions. Because uranium

is a "commodity for export" (rather than a domestic source of

energy), all those progressive unions in the transport sector

have been in a position to question the social and moral

implications of selling off Australia's uranium.

Within the Labor Party, the anti-uranium position grew very

quickly.

It grew at the grass-roots level. By the time of the Perth

Conference, there were strong resolutions from every State,

that made sure that the Labor Party would not give the go-ahead

for uranium mining development. .

Parliam ent H o u se, Canberra, A  C T . 2 6 0 0

2.

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The anti-uranium movement now fates a crucial period.

Our very success has brought new. opposition with it.

We have to recognise that,-in. opposing uranium mining .

development; we are opposing the interests of the very powerful

transnational corporations that have a huge capital and

political interest in increasing the importance of nuclear p o w e r .

We are opposing those power elites(in both business and governÂ­

ment) of the major industrial countries.

Most certainly we are opposing the Fraser Government. In the

short-term, the Prime Minister has a vested interest in seeking

confrontation.  He needs an election soon, and his only

possible safe election issue is "law and order" in a climate

of unrest that h Â£  himself has created.

. fn the longer term, the conservative forces in Australia also

hdife a vested interest in the commitment of Australia'  s uranium

to the woirId- Â· nuc le ar--d;uescycTp;Â·Â·* . .  .

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industry, the conservative forces committed to uranium mining

will gain a high degree of protection from the international

nuclear forces. _

More and more, the Australian power elite is becoming like

the comprador elites of many Third World countries - they deliver

the goods, they control domestic dissent, and, in r e t u r n , they

receive all types of assistance from outside.

All these factors mean that the success of the antiÂ­

uranium movement will meet tougher reaction from the very

powerful forces who want the uranium out of the g r o u n d .

3.

I believe that the crucial task of the anti-uranium

movement at this point in time is to increase its number

of supporters as quickly as p o s s i b l e .

Our greatest defence is the defence of numbers.

We have to win more and more of the uncommitted over to.a

position where they oppose the Fraser go-ahead.

We have to add to the growing support for the ALP policy

which is for a delay in any uranium developments until the

problems have been solved.

.  We have evidence from privately commissioned surveys that

this support is growing very quickly.

The public see the ALP policy as a responsible one. The

policy for delay is consistent with the widespread uncertainty

that people f e e l ;  they are not sure about all the- issues and

problems involved but they are uneasy about committing themÂ­

selves to agreeing to the go-ahead.

.  Of course, the more of the uncommitted that we can

encourage to study ..the .  is sues,-and. make a f i n a l d e c i s i o n  =  -in..;

f avburÂ» no f Â©’ ll eaveiid taina.thesgriOUnd&jj^t he -bb-e V fcef > i ^ HoWe*v.er-ÃÂ¼ÃÂ ,

f o i-Y.th 6 tip resen t ^ 4 a m p a  igri Â· .  Â¥ e 1 re ve w e  vjnu s* ~:a.i m \ i-}:> Ã¢ÂÂ  --- -  -  Â· ' — '

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  - Â·  . "  '  Â· .  Â· Â· Â· Â· . *3Ci"iÂ· Â·  ir. —  "*Â· Â·  * Â·"-* _

first and foremost, to co-opt as much support as possible

from the "middle ground.".

.  We must avoid polarisation.

*******

At this point, I want to talk candidly about the thinking

behind the uranium resolution passed at the Perth Conference. _

It is a firm, clear policy which opposes new m i n i n g ;  it

makes that opposition effective, by stating that the next

Labor Government will repudiate commitments for new mining

development.

4.

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I have brought copies of the policy with me, for you

tostudy (the media have not done very much to make this

important policy available to the p u b l i c ) .

This uranium policy was also designed specifically to

avoid po1arisation within the Party. .  There were the -

numbers, at Perth, to get a "leave it in.the ground" policy '

passed - there is significant support for this position

amongst Party membership in most States. However, such a

policy ran the risk of alienating (of polarising) certain

sections of the membership.

There had not been time to get all the uncommitted, and

encourage them to think deeply about the issue. There would

have been a split vote. And there was the very real danger

that a hard-line victory may not have received the loyalty,

solidarity, that is needed on such an important issue.

As it was, there was a policy drafted which spell|d o u t ,

in detail, that the ALP would oppose the development/any of

the proposed mines, for the foreseeable future.  .

It is technically, a policy for delay - until the people

at -a 11- levels:Ã¢ÂÂ   of itheÂ· ;  J’ -artyL^arsahasfhe di4;h ah^Nthetip^obhemseisri*-- Â·

hav'e ‘he eh-**=s o Iv e ck:^: It ih "as p~o llrhynthaSt’ -iim k ^ b r 1  -  -up itheir^bwnominds.n; It canno.tube h*ep.re:senhetls-by-/oilroSpoliitrebl e 1

opponents , :-as poTicy^hhaf^^oes^^aanshi hhe" View^ _ *  '

of the people. Because it is, technically, a policy for

effective delay of uranium mining, it makes sure that the

people have time to consider the issues.

It is a respectable, responsible policy - and it is a

practical application of the final recommendation of the Fox

Report.  .

By not advocating the immediate shut-down of the Mary

Kathleen mine, the policy gained the support of the Queenslanders

- that meant that the A L P 1s uranium policy had the additional

force of being passed unanimously at conference.  (This message

was not lost on thv Uranium Producers' F orum).

5.

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Everyone was well aware of the grave financial

difficulties of the M.K.U., Company. The Company and the

Government are only keeping the mine open for political

reasons. -

They would, have, dearly loved to be able to blame

the ALP for closing the mine - closure would save them

millions of d o l l a r s . Closure would create divisions in the

Labour M o v e m e n t .  It would give ammunition te the Premier of

Queensland, against the Queensland ALP. And, it would have

lost jobs for the mine w o r k e r s , at a time when Labor is not in

a position to ensure the economic security of the workers and

their families.

The accompanying resolution on "existing contracts" spells

out clearly that,Â· the existing contracts issue cannot

be used (as some would l i k e ) , to justify opening new mines.

. Â£ Â£ 7 . ; Â· _ ÃÂ ÃÂ¯ ,  Â·  : ' . ÃÂ¾ ~  . Â· '

The Fox Report, on Page 64, says that existing contracts

should be met from overseas sources if a decision is taken

not to proceed with uranium mining. - the ALP resolution endorses

that position, and specifies that, should Mary Kathleen c l o s e Ã¢ÂÂ

d own,  f or whateverÂ· reason no ^n e w~m ines,--shou I d ;be "op ened-^o-^tr -

satisfy*-!'existingi-cv ont-racÂ±-S'"iril  .

Underlying -the ..Vhole;-hnti>ufaniUm>ef fof tc”iTi-theT?ALP has’Â·  Ã¢ÂÂ

been a deliberate effort not to polarise, to co-opt supportj

to keep on winning new ground. .

This has been successful. We have gone on to see a

public acceptance of a very progressive policy which effectively

keeps the large new deposits of uranium in the g r o u n d .

But we still have much more ground to c o v e r .

We have to gain even more support, and gaih it quickly.

This support is particular/ important amongst the young

people. .

Our surveys show a great response amongst the young-

particularly amongst young women who, traditionally have not

been great supporters of the Labor Party.

I believe that the young women, especially the young

mothers, are acutely aware of the biological and genetic

dangers of the nuclear industry. They are playing the role

of guarding the future of their children, and all future

generations. .

Amongst the as-yet uncommitted, we have great opportunities

of gaining further support on this particular issue alone. .

I will state it again - the object of the exercise now

should be

.  .  to avoid polarisation .  _ .

'  " . t o  gain support from the middle ground

and .  to carefully avoid playing into the hands

of the LEr aser56o’ vje$nme-h"W^^T-'-  Â· Ã¢ÂÂ  -We mus tiinot^gi-ve— t^e4PT-a-Â§eT-^Overnmen‘ t^h:e^0p'porit’ Uni”15y^EL:Â« - * Â· - * Â·

it is looking f or j ato .  is:OTate^t ho s e ^ w J i o ^ p p o s p ^ p a m i a ^ ^  ng

We m u s t 1  m o t  give ;  the ;  Fraser ^Government''thrPconditions to

co-opt for itself, the support of the middle-ground, (support

for its policy of commercial greed and political opportunism

dressed up as Australia's contribution to save the world from

energy shortage and nuclear w a r ) .

Over the coming weeks, the Prime Minister will be looking

very hard, for the o pportunities.  And he knows he has fertile

conditions. ,  "

.  There is the National mobilisation next week.

7.

In Queensland, the police-state tactics of the Premier

have made it so much more difficult for the peopleJin Queensland

to participate in .  the national mobilisation. Petersen is also

looking for a confrontation to help his election campaign.

,  Also, there.are mere shipments of uranium to take place.

They will be timed to confront and confuse the Labour Movement.

.  On'fairly reliable information, we believe that the

Government has plans to use the armed forces if necessary

to move the uranium.

This is consistent with statements in the last two weeks

by--the Prime Minister and the Treasurer, directed to audiences

of foreign investors, that the Government is determined to

make good its policy on uranium. The Government is gearing

up to give a practical demonstration of just how determined it

is.

In the coming weeks, particularly during the October

mobilisation, .we in the anti-uranium movement must take

great care on this issue of confrontation..

It w i l l J require lor gantsatiOn^Oa"nd^.luknowntLhi-s-^is~.di-frf-icul-f:^-i;

with""isuch la r g e  n u m b e rs> and.-such', anvaried:'cdalixtionioS.-rforces-).

It will require internalldrsclplifteif-andpaddeterminatioh^^  not to be provoked by those whose ..role it is to confront.

Â·Â·--.Ã¢ÂÂ  -  It will even require that we pay some attention to our -

own ranks - pro-mining forces are quite capable of placing

provocateurs amongst the anti-uranium ranks. .  .

The procedures developed by march organisers for the  Vietnam moratorium are appropriate for the present circumstances. I

I believe we need good organisation. For our marches,  we need marshalls, and even our own photographers, to guard  against provocateurs and against violence from openly opposing  forces. .

Ã¢ÂÂ   *Â£$Â·. Ã¢ÂÂ   Ã¢ÂÂ   '  ' Â·  . Â·

8.

Fear, and the threat of violence are being used by

-  - - the Government to- separate the anti-uranium movement from

the uncommitted public.

. ***** . .

It is noticeable that all the loud statements condemning

violence are coming from the known advocates of uranium

mining.

Yet uranium and nuclear power are the most violent

source of energy known to humanity.

A uranium industry in Australia is certain to be a

violent industry.

*'Â· It would be carried out by companies that will demand

Government protection of their commercial interests.

.  The Government has announced that new mining at Ranger

is to proceed under the" repressive Atomic Energy Act, despite

the strong recommendation of the Ranger Inquiry agains.t its

.  use. in-c.  Â·  .  .  Â· -  .  . Â·  Â· Â· :  * ‘ .

.  Â·  .  ThisTAct,. arid the’  assoe^ated^Be-fen'ce^Rro jec-ts^Protactionrien

ÃÂ» ;  A c t , have"; extreme-.penal ^provisions i ^These' can be used if ~  '  "

.  necessary against workers directly involved in the industry,

.  or against the general public who, in any w a y , oppose uranium ^

mining. .

It is the legislative equivalent of war against Australians

who oppose the mining and export of uranium.

It allows for .  ”

. suppression of information

. arrest without warrant

. long jail terms. Â» - -

.  declaration of mine sites as restricted are a s ,

gic^lng the minister power to determine who

shall enter and who shall stay o u t .

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Ã¢ÂÂ  Ã¢ÂÂ  . -  J n de e d ,,.vbh e^Ac-t^a-ÃÂÃÂ o ws--  a>ny measure-necessary -  to ensure  > ' ' Â· Ã¢ÂÂ  " Ã¢ÂÂ   Â·  "  :  ’  .  Ã¢ÂÂ   .  Â·  .

/ that the project -is not disrupted.

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IX. . CZ  -  .T~

Against the violence of the proponents of uranium

mining >we-need-^ to-^be-fi-rm-^ disciplined, : and~ persis tan't.  '  : ;  - i  Â·

We must gain our strength by increasing our numbers

- 1 Â·  -  - The fundamental motivation of the people in the

anti-uranium movement is a commitment

.  to life

.  to peace

and .  to community

IN company with the anti-nuclear movement around the

world, we will stand against the violence of nuclear energy

and -the nuclear industry, until the peaceful alternatives

are established.

, Â·:-.-.1 Â· - .  : Â·  .   ÃÂ¤ ~ ÃÂ¤ ÃÂ ÃÂ " ÃÂ ÃÂ  j.

ÃÂ¯

