1 AUSTRALIA

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1 For media comment, please contact the Committee Chairman, the Hon Geoff Prosser MP, on:

(02) 6277 2055 (Parliament House) or (08) 9791 1146 (Electorate Office in Bunbury, WA)

For further information, please contact the Inquiry Secretary on: (02) 6277 4609 or via email at  ir.reps@aph.gov.au

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  Standing Committee on Industry and Resources  Developing Australia’s non-fossil fuel energy industry  Chair: The Hon Geoff Prosser MP

Deputy Chair: Michael Hatton MP

The strategic importance of  Australia’s uranium resources  Canberra public hearing, 10 October 2005  Representatives of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Safeguards and  Non-Proliferation Office and the Submarine Institute of Australia will attend this Monday’s public  hearing for a parliamentary inquiry investigating the strategic importance of Australia’s uranium  resources.

The Environment and Heritage portfolio conducts environmental assessments and approvals for  actions that are likely to have a significant impact on matters of National Environmental  Significance, which includes uranium mining. The portfolio also includes the Office of Supervising  Scientist, which monitors uranium mines in the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory.

The Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office is responsible for: the application of  nuclear safeguards in Australia; the protection and security of nuclear items in Australia; the  operation of Australia’s bilateral safeguards agreements; and contributing to the operation and  development of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and the strengthening of the

international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The House of Representatives Industry and Resources Committee is conducting hearings to  gather evidence for its inquiry into the development of the non-fossil fuel energy industry in  Australia. The Committee has commenced its inquiry with a case study examining Australia’s  uranium industry. The next hearing will be in Canberra on Monday 10 October.

The inquiry is examining the global demand for Australia’s uranium resources, the strategic  importance of these resources and the potential implications for global greenhouse gas emission  reductions from the further development and export of Australia’s uranium resources.

Submissions to the inquiry are available on the Committee’s web site:  http://www.aph.qov.au/house/committee/isr/uranium/subs. htm

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE  Venue: Committee Room 2R2, Parliament House, Canberra

9.30 am  10.30 am  11.30 am  12.20 pm

Department of the Environment and Heritage (sub no. 55)  Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (sub no. 33)  Submarine Institute of Australia (sub no. 21)  Close of public hearing

