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Parties split on nuclear debate PRIME Minister John Howard says Australia should look at using nuclear power if it becomes economically viable.But Opposition Leader Kim Beazley hit back at Mr Howard's remark, saying he should invite Australians "to bid for that reactor in their own suburbs" to see what their response would be. He also accused the Prime Minister of a secret agenda, to have Australia develop nuclear power. As the uranium debate widened, Mr Howard said there was no prohibition on nuclear power. "At the moment it's not economically attractive enough to do so. But my philosophy is that if it became economically attractive, I would not oppose it any more than I oppose the export of uranium." Treasurer Peter Costello suggested Australia could have a nuclear power industry in 10 to 20 years as people saw it as a cleaner alternative to existing methods of producing energy. Mr Howard said one could not say that it was all right for other countries to use nuclear power fuelled by Australian uranium while maintaining that Australia would never contemplate it. "I would not stand in the way if I were satisfied that it were economically feasibie, provided all the safeguards were there." Mr Beazley said Labor's view was clear-cut. "We say no to a nuclear power industry for Australia." Labor is starting what will be a long debate on its uranium mining policy, which currently says it wouid not approve more mines beyond those approved when it reached office. Mr Beazley said Mr Howard was trying to put the focus on the ALP over its mining policy "while he gets on with his plans for nuclear power in this country". The Government wanted a nuclear powel industry in Australia but didn't want any focus on it," Mr Beazley said. He said Labor would arrive at the right uranium policy when its conference in a year's time had the opportunity to discuss it. There was no hurry to get new developments. The Roxby Downs mine would double in size, willie Honeymoon would come on stream. "Those alone will more than adequately fulfil every forseeable contract into the medium term with China and anyone else we sign up to," Mr Beazley said, The important issue was not who dug up the uranium but the terms and conditions on which it was sold. Mr Beazley said the Prime Minister was undermining the non-proliferation safeguards and was "hiding an agenda which will be reveaied after the next election, if he's re-elected, to introduce nuclear power in this country". Mr Beazley again opposed uranium exports to India, which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Mr Howard has left the way open for possible sales to India, although Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is known to support the existing ban. |
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