Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Minchin. Can the minister confirm that the proposed treaty and agreement with China to be signed during Premier Wen’s visit will provide for export of uranium to China and also allow the involvement of Chinese companies in the exploration for uranium in Australia? If so, how can the government grant any such right to explore given that the Commonwealth does not have power over the states in that regard? What is the rationale for such a treaty and agreement, given that China is a nuclear weapons state which is already failing to fulfil its obligations to disarm under the non-proliferation treaty and that there can be no guarantee that Australian uranium will not displace limited Chinese supplies and facilitate the Chinese nuclear weapons program?