Antinuclear

Martin Ferguson taking over foreign policy from Kevin Rudd?

Mr Ferguson had written to an environmental non-government organisation saying he was in charge of nuclear policy………Mr Ferguson told the US embassy in Canberra in 2009 a deal to supply India with nuclear fuel could be reached in three to five years…..

“Which I suspect would be a big surprise to the foreign minister (Kevin Rudd) who signed off on the bilateral security agreements,” Senator Ludlam told AAP…It would no doubt be a surprise to Environment Minister Peter Garrett

Ferguson self-crowned nuke king: Greens, Sydney Morning Herald, Andrea Hayward,May 31, 2011 The rift between the Australian Greens and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson is widening after another attack on the Labor frontbencher over nuclear policy.

Mr Ferguson had “crowned himself the emperor of nuclear policy”, Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said after a senate estimates hearing on Tuesday.

During the hearing, Senator Ludlam quizzed officials as to whether there had been a change in portfolio because Mr Ferguson had written to an environmental non-government organisation saying he was in charge of nuclear policy.

“Which I suspect would be a big surprise to the foreign minister (Kevin Rudd) who signed off on the bilateral security agreements,” Senator Ludlam told AAP.

It would no doubt be a surprise to Environment Minister Peter Garrett and Health Minister Nicola Roxon, who both had responsibilities regarding nuclear policy, too, Senator Ludlam said.

“The minister has obviously made this unilateral decision to crown himself the king of nukes when it’s really just a crossed portfolio and set of issues,” he said.

“It does indicate the way in which he’s really just allowed to run amok and everyone just has to clean up after him.”…

Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism officials refused to answer a question prompted by a Wikileaks cable.

The cable said Mr Ferguson told the US embassy in Canberra in 2009 a deal to supply India with nuclear fuel could be reached in three to five years.

Senator Ludlam said just because the question arose from the cable it shouldn’t make them immune from answering the question…

June 3, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics