27 Dec (NucNet): Political support for a debate about nuclear energy greatly increases the likelihood that Queensland’s ban on uranium mining will eventually be overturned, the Australian Uranium Association (AUA) has said.
The AUA said Queensland premier Anna Bligh has correctly identified the national interest factors that make nuclear energy “an increasingly attractive electricity generation option” for Australia, the association’s chief executive officer Michael Angwin said.
Ms Bligh, a prominent Labor Party member, told ‘The Australian’ newspaper earlier this week that alternative energy cannot match coal-generated power as a baseload electricity source, and that means Australia should consider adding nuclear power to its energy options.
On 23 December 2010 she called for a review of the ruling anti-nuclear Labor Party’s policy. She joins other Labor leaders, notably federal resources minister Martin Ferguson, in calling for the party to at least argue out its position on nuclear energy rather than continue a decades-long ban.
Mr Angwin said Ms Bligh’s comments represent “a considered and accurate” summary of some of the key arguments for consideration of nuclear energy as part of the electricity generation mix for Australia.
In an editorial analysis of Ms Bligh’s comments ‘The Australian’ said: “Strangely enough, while they (opponents to nuclear energy) keep on condemning all but medical uses of uranium, they never mention France, which sources 75 percent of its power from nuclear power plants.”
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Australia Presents Economic, Environmental Case For Nuclear Energy (News No. 221, 18 October 2006)
Russia Welcomes Uranium Agreement With Australia (News No. 206, 10 September 2007)
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