New Australian Government Will Not Export Uranium To India
Written by NucNet
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
16 Jan (NucNet): Australia's newly-elected government has confirmed that it will not allow exports of uranium to India - overturning a policy decision by the former administration.
Foreign minister Stephen Smith said yesterday that the Australian Labor Party, which took office on 3 December 2007, had a longstanding commitment not to allow exports of uranium to countries that are not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"India is not a nation state that is a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. I don't think there's any expectation in this national community that India will become a member, Mr Smith said.
In August 2007, former prime minister John Howard said Australia would change its foreign policy to allow the export of uranium to India subject to "strict conditions".
This report was compiled for NucNet by John Shepherd.
