LABOR leader Kevin Rudd has formally moved amendments to Labor's uranium platform which would overturn its 25-year-old no new mines policy. The amendments would remove the ban on any new mines and allow uranium to be exported only to countries which have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The amendments, seconded by South Australian Premier Mike Rann, would also limit the processing of weapon-usable material and tighten controls over the export of nuclear material and technology.
Mr Rudd said he recognised that states and territories would take their own decisions on whether to approve new mines and Federal Labor did not support a nuclear power system for Australia, he said.
Mr Rudd's amendment was not universally supported.
NSW delegate Jenny McAllister, a member of the Labor environment activist network, said uranium mining was inextricably linked to the nuclear industry.
"Uranium mining is at the heart of the nuclear industry and you cannot support one without supporting the other. These questions must be considered together," she said.
"Any proposal to expand uranium mining deepens our engagement with the nuclear industry."
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese moved his own amendments to maintain the ban, saying nuclear power was not the solution to climate change.
He appealed to any undecided delegates to vote with him.
"If you're cautious about further involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle, vote for my amendment," Mr Albanese said.
"If you think that it's pretty arrogant to suggest that we know what will happen to geology, climate, and importantly, political changes over the next 240,000 years, think there might be a doubt about it – vote for my amendment.
"Let's put out a consistently clear position that says we don't want any further involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle."
Mr Albanese's amendment was seconded by Labor's environment spokesman Peter Garrett
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