Fed: Howard's nuclear plans political suicide say opposers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2007
Fed: Howard's nuclear plans political suicide say opposers

By Nikki Todd

BRISBANE, April 28 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard has committed political suicide
by moving to introduce nuclear power to Australia, anti-nuclear campaigners said today.

Mr Howard today promised to remove all excessive restrictions on mining, processing
and exporting of Australian uranium as a possible step to embarking on domestic nuclear
power generation.

The move has met with horror from peace activists and members of the Queensland Nuclear
Free Alliance (QNFA), citing environmental and political reasons for their opposition
to the plan.

"I think Mr Howard has just committed political suicide, given the statistics showing
the public opposition to not only uranium mining, but to the development of nuclear power
in this country," Just Peace spokeswoman Annette Brownlie told AAP.

"Problems of waste and nuclear proliferation and nuclear accidents are all on people's
minds, they haven't gone away.

"People really are very, very afraid of nuclear energy and the whole cycle."

Ms Brownlie said the move would increase political suspicion among neighbouring countries
that Australia was operating as "an outpost of the United States".

"Our neighbouring countries will have legitimate fear that Australia may become a nuclear-armed
nation," she said.

QNFA spokeswoman Robin Taubenfeld said it was "highly irresponsible" of the Howard
government to promote the expansion of the nuclear industry.

"There is no justification for developing nuclear power in this country," Ms Taubenfeld said.

"It certainly has nothing to do with a solution to climate change, it has proven to
be extremely water intensive, not cost effective and a highly polluting industry."

Ms Taubenfeld said Australia would now be hypocritical for criticising countries like
Iran for developing their nuclear industries.

"Going down the path of enriching uranium in Australia would be sending a clear message
to our neighbours in the region and worldwide that Australia is not only gearing up to
be a bigger player in the nuclear club, but Australia will be on the brink of technology
to develop its own weapons arsenal," she said.

AAP nt/lh/mn

KEYWORD: NUCLEAR QLD

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