Mon, 13th October 2008   RUDD'S SNUB TO INDIA JEOPARDISES RESOURCES TRADE

The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP   Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources

The Rudd Labor Government’s continued hypocritical refusal to allow Australian  uranium sales to India is having an immediate impact on the Australian resources  sector and will continue to cost jobs, export earnings and investment opportunities,  Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources Ian Macfarlane said today.

“By persisting in telling India it doesn’t trust it enough to sell Australian uranium  under the same terms, conditions and International Atomic Energy Agency  inspection program as Australian uranium sales to China, the Rudd Labor  Government is jeopardising Australia’s entire trade and investment relationship with  India,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The Rudd Government’s unsustainable attitude is forcing the Australian resources  sector to sit on the sidelines as lucrative opportunities go begging.

“India and the international community will not indulge the Rudd Government’s  untenable position.

“Reports today that India is negotiating with Kazakhstan, which possesses 15  percent of the world’s known uranium supplies, is more evidence that the Rudd  Government’s unsustainable attitude is shutting Australia out of this burgeoning new  market.

“As commodity prices tighten, it is essential that the Rudd Government does not  compromise opportunities for exporters, especially in growth markets like India.

“India needs access to clean energy sources now, to meet the demands of its  growing population, while reducing its greenhouse gas emissions from electricity  generation.

“Our resources and industry exporters cannot wait any longer to see when, or if, the  Rudd Government resolves the muddle it has created for itself.”

