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)
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