Antinuclear

The planned export of uranium to fuel nuclear reactors in India has had a troubled history. First agreed late in the final term of the Howard government, the deal was abandoned by Labor under Kevin Rudd. There was good reason. India may be a growing economic powerhouse with ever expanding energy needs, but it is also a nuclear-armed state. India has refused to be party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Australia’s longstanding policy had been to refuse to export yellowcake to countries that fail to submit themselves to the international legal framework………….

having determined that India will be a market for Australian uranium, it is incumbent on the government to ensure stringent safeguards are in place to ensure the material is used for the peaceful purposes intended. To this end, Australia has negotiated similar safeguard treaties to cover 41 countries. But with India, the government, in an apparent rush to make an announcement during Mr Abbott’s recent visit, has failed to uphold the same standard of agreement……..

The treaties committee in Parliament was created by the Howard government in the 1990s out of concern that the executive had too much power to bind Australia to international commitments without parliamentary oversight. The committee should recommend the agreement with India be sent back to the negotiators. It would be a pity now if the Coalition’s committee members simply used their numbers to rubber stamp this treaty without addressing Mr Carlson’s concerns…….

A dispute resolution process should also be included in the treaty, along with the right to see the uranium returned to Australia should there be a breach of safeguards. This would be consistent with equivalent treaties with other countries.

Mr Abbott has been keen to showcase Australia as “open for business” but the rush to get the deal done should not be at the expense of careful attention to detail. http://www.theage.com.au/comment/rethink-needed-on-india-uranium-deal-20141209-123h95.html