Rudd firm on India uranium ban
Rudd firm on India uranium ban
THE Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson, say the ALP is free to debate a policy change to allow uranium exports to India but
Mr Rudd remains opposed, saying India does not need any more of the mineral.
Indian officials and business are lobbying behind the scenes at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth for the government to change its policy and allow uranium exports.
The Coalition supports exporting uranium to India and it is believed the topic was raised when the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, also in Perth, met yesterday with the Indian Vice-President, Hamid Ansari.
But Labor opposes selling uranium to any nation such as India, which is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Speaking after a mining industry breakfast yesterday,
Mr Rudd said India did not even need Australian uranium.
''Work out where India currently sources its uranium from around the world,'' he said.
''There is no problem in terms of global supply, let's just be very, very blunt about this.
''If you hear an argument from an Indian businessperson that the future of the nuclear industry in India depends exclusively on access to uranium, that is simply not sustainable as a proposition. Have a look at the data.''
Mr Ferguson, who does support selling uranium to India, said he was not proposing himself to move at the national conference for a policy change but he would eagerly join a debate if someone else did.
He stressed that, regardless of the policy, ''we've got a very strong relationship with India''.
Mr Ferguson revealed there were discussions in progress for a large investment in the Galilee coal basin in Queensland.
''Indian investors will be the key to the huge export opportunity for Australia,'' he said.
''The relationship with Australia is exceptionally good.''
i think India has managed a lot with countries , when the opp comes to power . just wait for elections.
