Australian govt puts interest of uranium industry above efforts towards nuclear disarmament
Australia’s uranium exports and US ties behind nuclear stance: New Zealand PM John Key SMH March 11, 2014 – Australia’s uranium exports and close alliance with the United States explain Canberra’s opposition to Wellington’s nuclear disarmament diplomacy, according to New Zealand prime minister John Key.
”It’s kind of inevitable we might take a slightly different stance to a country like Australia that produces uranium and is part of ANZUS,” Mr Key said on Monday.
”It’s just one of those things where they come from a slightly different perspective. They are part of ANZUS, there’s just different factors that might play into their thinking when it comes to nuclear disarmament.”
Mr Key was responding to reports by Fairfax Media that Australian diplomats worked to undermine a New Zealand-led push at the United Nations to highlight the humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons.
New Zealand Labour opposition spokesperson on disarmament Maryan Street said the revelations Australia had tried to frustrate New Zealand’s diplomacy struck “a jarring note” in trans-Tasman relations……
One hundred and twenty five countries supported the New Zealand-led statement on nuclear disarmament while only 17 countries signed up to the Australian text – all US allies and mostly NATO members. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australias-uranium-exports-and-us-ties-behind-nuclear-stance-new-zealand-pm-john-key-20140311-34jcq.html
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