Fed: Labor calls for an end to nuclear debate

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2007
Fed: Labor calls for an end to nuclear debate

By Sarah Wiley

CANBERRA, April 30 AAP - Labor wants an end to the nuclear debate in order to focus
on developing technologies to exploit existing energy sources.

Labor is defending its rigid stance against nuclear power despite overturning its no
new uranium mines policy at the ALP national conference at the weekend.

"Nuclear energy would be far more costly for this country than clean coal or better
exploiting renewable," Labor's deputy leader Julia Gillard told Southern Cross Broadcasting
today.

"Developing nuclear reactors, constructing them, is a generation-long endeavour, these
are not quickly developed facilities let alone solving the issue of where are they going
to go.

"We have the ability to develop all of the technologies to make that energy useable,
we can better invest in clean coal, we can better invest in renewables. Let's get on with
that rather than having, what in some ways is, an unproductive debate about nuclear energy,"

she said.

Prime Minister John Howard is continuing his push for nuclear energy, announcing plans
at the weekend to open the way for nuclear power stations in Australia.

Mr Howard dismissed Labor's stance as hypocritical.

"You have this ridiculous situation where they have hailed themselves as apostles of
the 21st century by ending their three mines policy on uranium ... yet in the same breath
they're saying 'but of course, we can't convert the uranium for nuclear power in Australia
although we can sell it to countries overseas and they can use it for civilian nuclear
purposes'.

"What a hypocritical, contradictory position to have."

Opposition leader Kevin Rudd defended Labor's position, saying it makes sense.

Mr Rudd said that because Australia, unlike many countries, has abundant alternative
energy resources - solar, wind, geothermal and coal - there was no need to go nuclear.

"There are a whole bunch of other countries around the world which are not so energy-rich,
and therefore they do need uranium," Mr Rudd told the Nine Network.

"Mr Howard's plan by contrast is to forget coal, forget clean coal, turn your back
on the coal industry and instead let's build 25 nuclear reactors in a suburb near you.

"We have been selling uranium for many, many years and our policy simply recognises
that new reality," he said.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann backed the change in policy, saying it was a victory
for common sense.

"The ALP conference decision on uranium represents, from my point of view - mission
accomplished," the premier told the Australian Resources and Energy Investment conference
in Adelaide.

He said South Australia was now "totally and completely open for business" in the area
of uranium mining and export.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie supported the lifting of the uranium mining ban, but
sais his state's policy would remain the same.

Mr Beattie said Queensland would remain free of uranium mines and coal would continue
to be the backbone of the state's economy.

"In terms of nuclear generation - the prime minister, who is one of the best wedged
politicians in Australia's history, is going to wedge himself on this - because Australians
will not support nuclear reactors in this country.

"You can imagine Queensland's position - and tourism is our second biggest industry
- going out saying 'beautiful one day, radioactive the next' - it just doesn't work."

AAP sw/cb/it/sp

KEYWORD: URANIUM NIGHTLEAD

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