Antinuclear

The Australian prime minister’s scheduled visit follows the completion of negotiations surrounding arrangements for the export of uranium, according to multiple news reports.

Indian officials convinced their Australian counterparts that the uranium would not be used for nuclear weapons, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Monday.

The Times of India reported earlier this month that negotiations between the two countries had concluded and the deal was likely to be signed during Abbott’s visit to India in early September

The Australian government would not confirm the reports on Monday, but the assistant minister for infrastructure, Jamie Briggs, told the ABC it would be a welcome development if true.

Labor’s treasury spokesman, Chris Bowen, said the former government had been working on arrangements to sell uranium to India.

“The Labor party put in place the policy framework to allow that to happen so if that has been progressed that’s something that’s welcomed,” Bowen said.

In 2012 the then prime minister, Julia Gillard, visited India and announced the two countries would begin negotiations for a nuclear safeguards agreement.  ….http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/18/tony-abbott-expected-to-sign-uranium-deal-with-india-on-visit-next-month