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PM'S nuclear power plan panned
April 28, 2007 10:24am
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THE Federal Government says it is ensuring Australia has all the facts to consider whether nuclear power is a viable energy alternative.

Prime Minister John Howard has reportedly instructed ministers and departments to take immediate action on a four-stage plan to prepare Australia for a nuclear future and report back to him by the end of this year.

The expansion could ultimately include nuclear power stations, uranium enrichment and nuclear waste treatment.

"We want to put in place a series of work plans, four major work plans, mapping out the way forward for Australia in the process of considering nuclear energy," Industry and Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane said on ABC radio today.

"That's to provide a factual base for the public as they debate whether or not they want Australia to use nuclear energy as part of our zero emissions electricity future."

Federal Opposition treasury spokesman Wayne Swan criticised the plans, saying Mr Howard was playing politics as Labor prepares to debate its uranium mining and nuclear policy.

"John Howard has been in parliament for over 30 years and suddenly the Australian people are expected to believe that on the day of the Labor Party national conference that's debating uranium he's suddenly discovered a new way to fast-track nuclear power," he said.

"It's just not credible nor is it dignified for the Prime Minister of Australia to play politics in such a silly and demeaning way.

"Australia has abundant supplies of gas and coal which will supply our energy needs for hundreds of years."

Labor has decided to bring forward a controversial debate on changing its 25-year-old no new uranium mines policy.

The debate was originally scheduled for late afternoon at the ALP national conference at the Sydney Convention Centre but delegates voted this morning to hold the debate at 3pm.

The Wilderness Society (TWS) said an expanded nuclear industry would leave a dangerous legacy for future Australians.

"The Prime Minister has said he wants to develop a nuclear industry but what he isn't saying is that Australia is being lined up to become the world's nuclear waste dump," TWS campaigns director Alec Marr said today.

"Mr Howard's plan to enrich uranium is scandalous and would result in toxic waste that remains deadly for 4.5 billion years.

"A nuclear industry in Australia, including increased uranium exports, will create vast new amounts of toxic waste that will be deadly to humans for as long as 250,000 years," he said.