Chapter 6

International Safeguards and Related Matters

Uranium is mined in Australia exclusively for export purposes. Uranium, and nuclear material derived from it, is as heavily regulated after export as it is prior to leaving Australia.

The Committee was thus directed to report on the "effectiveness of Australia's bilateral agreements with countries importing Australian uranium in ensuring that Australian-sourced uranium is not used in military nuclear technology or nuclear weapons testing activities".

Policy governing control of international aspects of exporting uranium again had its recent origins in the Fox Report. The Fox Report warned that exporting uranium would need to take account of national security and international relations matters. The nuclear power industry, it concluded, "is unintentionally contributing to an increased risk of nuclear war. This is the most serious hazard associated with the industry" (RUEI Report No 1, recommendation 3, 185).

It counselled further that:

7. Policy respecting Australian uranium exports, for the time being at least, should be based on a full recognition of the hazards, dangers and problems of and associated with the production of nuclear energy, and should therefore seek to limit or restrict expansion of that production.

8. No sales of Australian uranium should take place to any country not party to the NPT. Export should be subject to the fullest and most effective safeguards agreements, and be supported by fully adequate back-up agreements applying to the entire civil nuclear industry in the country supplied. Australia should work towards the adoption of this policy by other suppliers. (RUEI Report No 1, 185)