Markland AGF Precious Metals Corp T.MPM

increasing the amount of Australian uranium

[piltech]

Inquiry 'cover for uranium exports' A NEW parliamentary inquiry into Australia's non-fossil fuel energy industry was a cover to help the government boost uranium exports, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said today. Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane yesterday gave the go ahead for the inquiry, which will examine Australia's uranium resources, including global demand for the resources and the strategic importance of the commodity. But Senator Brown said the inquiry was a Trojan horse being used as a cover by the government to boost exports of uranium. "Of course it's a Trojan horse and of course it's a push by the mining industry through the Howard Government to expand uranium mining and to open it up to unfettered trade into the world market," he told ABC radio. "And at the other end of each uranium mine is the potential for terrorists picking up handbag-sized nuclear weapons." However, Mr Macfarlane dismissed Senator Brown's claims. "It's not a Trojan horse," he told ABC radio. "I certainly plead guilty about trying to do everything I can to increase the amount of uranium exports out of Australia, providing it's done to countries who have signed all the relevant non proliferation clauses and regulations." Mr Macfarlane said the inquiry was timely because demand for uranium was growing and prices rising. "This review is not about changing the regulatory arrangements," he said. "This review is about establishing the value to Australia of uranium. "It's also not about consideration of nuclear fuel in Australia. "It's been made quite plain by this Government that it's not an area that we're prepared to consider."