Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am not quite sure what the point of the question is. The reality is that there are a number of suppliers of uranium in the world. We sell into the uranium market. We sell in strict accordance with the international safeguards for the sale of uranium. We sell in accordance with those international commitments and we only sell to those who are party to those international arrangements for the satisfactory use of that uranium. The uranium is sold into a global market and our share in that market varies according to the various market factors.

Some countries have a need for nuclear energy to meet their energy demands. We as a Labor government in this place have a policy position where we do not support using nuclear power as part of Australia’s energy sources. We will continue to look to use more renewable energy in addition to our efforts to move to clean coal technology. So we do not see nuclear power as an option for Australia, and I think currently that is also the opposition’s policy—but I have been confused in the past as to whether you are pro nuclear power in this country or not. It seems to have gone back and forth.

But clearly other countries make their energy decisions based on their own needs. Countries such as France, which has very little alternative, went to nuclear power many years ago. Other countries are making decisions based on their own resource needs. I know China is using a combination of hydro, coal and nuclear and is looking to develop a variety of sources. We sell uranium into those markets. The decisions about what energy sources they seek to use are questions for them. But for us the issue is: we market our uranium and sell into international markets based on strict international safeguards and we will continue to do so.