John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter, dated 8 August 2007, from the Leader of the Australian Democrats:

Dear Mr President,

Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move:

That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

An imminent deal between the United States and India that will exempt India from restrictions on nuclear trade will pave the way for Australia to commit to a bilateral agreement with India on the export of uranium, recognising:

(a)

the dangers of undermining nuclear weapons safeguards by selling uranium to a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty;

(b)

the extent to which nuclear energy provides a solution to the problems associated with climate change;

(c)

the prospect of the Government taking control of uranium reserves from anti-mining states.

Is the proposal supported?

More than the number of senators required by the standing orders having risen in their places—

I understand that informal arrangements have been made to allocate specific times to each of the speakers in today’s debate. With the concurrence of the Senate, I shall ask the clerks to set the clock accordingly.