Fed: Beazley feels little pressure to change uranium policy

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2006
Fed: Beazley feels little pressure to change uranium policy

SYDNEY, April 7 AAP - Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says he feels little pressure
to change Labor's policy on uranium mining in Australia.

Key Labor figures, including the party's resources spokesman Martin Ferguson, have
pushed for the party to overturn its long-standing policy opposing new uranium mines.

An agreement between Australia and China this week has opened the way for uranium exports
to the Asian superpower.

Mr Beazley today said he felt little pressure to change Labor's policy, which would
serve Australia sufficiently for the foreseeable future.

"I don't feel under any enormous pressure from (Prime Minister John) Howard on the
subject of the Labor Party's uranium policy," Mr Beazley told a business lunch in Sydney.

"Under that policy, the expansion of Roxby Downs and the creation of the Honeymoon
mine is possible in South Australia.

"The production from them will easily take up all that can be foreseen in the medium
term in terms of demand on uranium exports."

Uranium should only be exported from Australia under strict conditions, he said.

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KEYWORD: URANIUM BEAZLEY

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