Uranium sales to France increased

By Marina Cameron

On October 21, federal National Party leader Tim Fischer announced the lifting of an eight-year "ban" on Australian uranium sales to France. Greens Senator Dee Margetts responded on October 22, that, in fact, "Australia provided 400 tonnes a year of uranium during the so-called ban".

Just over a year ago, massive demonstrations occurred around the country to protest French nuclear testing in the Pacific. According to Margetts, the Australian Safeguards Office has admitted that "there was a strong possibility that Australian uranium may have ended up in French nuclear weapons tested in the South Pacific last year".

Environmental groups have condemned the official lifting of the ban, pointing out that France will be supplied by expanding mines in the Kakadu and Rudall National Parks.

Friends of the Earth said: "Even as he [Fischer] speaks there are demonstrations taking place at weapons establishments in France ... Mr Fischer points out that France obtains 70% of its electricity from nuclear power. What he doesn't acknowledge is that France has the most costly power in Europe."

Environment spokesperson for the Democratic Socialists, Coral Wynter, said: "The government has attempted to justify the expansion of uranium sales because France has just signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. But the reality is that Australian uranium will still end up in nuclear weapons. The basic motivation for the move is trade and profit, while the issues of environmental safeguards and protection, and the well-being of miners, nuclear power workers or those unlucky enough to be in the vicinity of an accident or test, are ignored."

From GLW issue 252