A Newspoll survey conducted by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has revealed that 40% of Australians are against the export of Australian uranium to any country for use in nuclear power plants for electricity generation.
A further 22% were found to be against the export of uranium to countries that possess nuclear weapons, even if those countries have signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“These polling results show how deeply concerned and uneasy Australians are about uranium exports and the possibility that Australian uranium may contribute to nuclear weapons programs, even where those countries have signed the NPT,” ACF campaigner David Noonan said.
“Australia should not export uranium to any country that is not fully meeting its nuclear NPT obligations.
“Russia, China, the USA, the UK and France are all failing to meet their NPT nuclear disarmament obligations.”
The survey comes after Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson recently held discussions with new WA Premier Colin Barnett about the expansion of uranium mining in the State.
Both the Federal and WA Governments are in favour of uranium expansion.
Expanding uranium mining would mean a large increase in Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a spokesman for Minister Martin Ferguson told MINING DAILY.
“Concerns relating to both energy security and climate change are set to drive significant increases in the global use of nuclear power and in turn, demand for Australian uranium,” he said.
“A 2008 report commissioned by the Australian Uranium Association found that up to $17 billion dollars in GDP could be gained over the next 20 years by the expansion of uranium mining throughout Australia.”
Expanding uranium mining for use in nuclear power also has environmental effects, Ferguson’s spokesperson said.
“Billions of tomes of carbon emissions could be prevented.”
Australian Conservation Foundation
1800 223 669
earthvoice@acfonline.org.au
www.acfonline.org.au