Senator Christine Milne



Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Fuelling China's nuclear capacity undermines global security: Greens

Australians should not be misled about the federal government capacity to control  China's use of Australian uranium, Australian Greens energy spokesperson Senator  Christine Milne said today.

"The imminent deal to permit Australian uranium sales to China will heighten global  insecurity as the safeguards under which it will be permitted are neither permanent nor  mandatory," Senator Milne said in Canberra.

"China, a nuclear weapons state, can refuse access to some inspections by the  International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the Additional Protocol to the nuclear  Non-Proliferation Treaty does not apply to China.

"Australian yellowcake will be processed in Chinese military facilities. How can Prime  Minister John Howard guarantee that Australian uranium entering such facilities will not  come out as highly-enriched uranium, or will not enable existing Chinese uranium  supplies to be redirected to military uses?

"A prime minister committed to a safer world would not permit the export of uranium to  China with its record of providing missile technology to North Korea, Libya, Pakistan  and Iran."

Senator Milne said Prime Minister Howard should take no comfort from UK Prime  Minister Tony Blair's nod for nuclear power today as a solution to climate change.   "Nuclear power is not a solution to climate change. It is too expensive and too slow,"  Senator Milne said.   "Energy efficiency gains can be won immediately and renewable energy can be installed  quickly, unlike nuclear power which takes more than a decade to come on line.   "Whichever way you look at it, the nuclear industry has no solution to the issues of  weapons and waste, and has never been able to operate without massive government  subsidies."   Senator Milne raised this matter in Question Time today and in Taking Note of Answers  immediately afterwards. Hansard Proofs are available on request.   Contact: Katrina Willis 02 6277 3063 or 0437 587 562

