Mr BALDWIN - 1994-10-05
Will the Northern Territory's economy suffer as a consequence of the decision by the National Conference of the Australian Labor Party to prohibit further expansion of the uranium mining industry?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it would be easy to look at the uranium issue in the Northern Territory and say that nothing has changed really and therefore no harm has been done. However, that would be a totally wrong interpretation of the outcome of the recent ALP conference in Hobart. In fact, the Territory has suffered a severe blow as far as the outcome of that conference is concerned. Whilst most of us have never understood the basis or justification for the ALP's 3-mine uranium policy, an opportunity comes along from time to time at the ALP annual conferences to re-examine and overturn that policy. We should look upon those occasions as opportunities where sanity ought one day to prevail. Very sadly, on this occasion it did not.
It is a ridiculous policy and has been described as such by members of the ALP themselves. The insanity of it is demonstrated by the fact that, as a result of continuing to refuse further expansion of Australia's uranium exports, not one gram less uranium will be consumed by the world. That is the nub of it. One is able to understand those people who believe that uranium is environmentally dangerous in the world today, that we should not mine it and that, instead, we should use more expensive sources of energy. If Australia had all of the world's uranium, it would be understandable if the government of the day adopted a policy that it would not sell it because it would be morally wrong for people to use it and that policy would prevent their getting into trouble with it. However, the insanity is that this policy works directly in the best interests of other countries.
I am sure that in Canada, South Africa and Russia, the big suppliers of uranium to the world, the champagne corks were popping when the decision was made to maintain the current federal ALP policy because that means huge sums for those uranium exporters. It does not mean huge sums only for the next 3 years while this policy is frozen, it means huge sums for many years because an exporter has to enter and capture a market for however long the uranium contracts are signed, probably 10 or 20 years. That demonstrates the extent of the insanity of this federal ALP policy. It has no effect whatsoever in terms of reducing world uranium consumption. Its only effect is economically detrimental to Australia and, of course, in our particular situation, it has a very real effect on the Territory because 20% of the world's low-cost reserves are located within our borders and we and the Aboriginal traditional owners of the uranium province are the victims of this insane policy.
The tragedy of it for Territorians is not only the outcome of the conference but the fact that Labor in the Northern Territory cannot have a singular view even on a subject of such importance to the Territory. It is an absurd situation. The Leader of the Opposition - and I say that it was to his credit - stood up and said that he would go and fight for a change in the policy. I believe Senator Bob Collins said exactly the same. He has been an advocate for a
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change to the policy for some time. But, what are they working against? They are working against not only radical green forces interstate, but against their own ALP colleagues and party machine right here in the Northern Territory and, of course, the likes of the Territory's member of the House of Representatives, Hon Warren Snowdon, who has been very noticeable by the absence of any media communication from him in the last several weeks. No doubt, as a member of the left faction, he has been working very hard to undermine any work done by the Leader of the Opposition and Senator Collins to ensure that their objectives were not achieved. Unfortunately, this man was elected by Territorians to represent their interests in Canberra. In addition to that, the local ALP machine has delegates at these conferences. I am not sure how many votes they have but, as I understand it, being controlled primarily by the left-wing, their policy is also to oppose any expansion of uranium mining.
This is an absurd situation. I am sure that the Leader of the Opposition has pondered the untenable position in which his party has placed him in recent times. It has made him look really silly. I thought that he might come into the House yesterday wearing a black arm-band as a result of the treatment he has received from his colleagues and their lack of support. Perhaps I could suggest that he might think about doing the honourable thing and becoming an independent or whatever. He might join our colleague on the crossbenches. That would be at least an honourable move rather than his continuing to lead a party that is a shambles and that will not back him on the issues on which Territorians support him.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr PERRON: They will not back you for one minute.
Mr Speaker, I have contemplated also raising this issue briefly with the Prime Minister at the next COAG meeting - and I will attempt to do so - when we discuss the Hilmer principles of competition policy in Australia because this must be the classic example. Although we are told that the Prime Minister is a supporter of more uranium mining, he is hampered by his party from allowing Australia to become internationally competitive in this most lucrative and important area for Australia's economy, and seems happy enough to sit back and let those opportunities pass by. I believe that is a terrible shame for the country and, in particular, for the Northern Territory. The outcome of the conference was a very sad day for the Northern Territory.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it would be easy to look at the uranium issue in the Northern Territory and say that nothing has changed really and therefore no harm has been done. However, that would be a totally wrong interpretation of the outcome of the recent ALP conference in Hobart. In fact, the Territory has suffered a severe blow as far as the outcome of that conference is concerned. Whilst most of us have never understood the basis or justification for the ALP's 3-mine uranium policy, an opportunity comes along from time to time at the ALP annual conferences to re-examine and overturn that policy. We should look upon those occasions as opportunities where sanity ought one day to prevail. Very sadly, on this occasion it did not.
It is a ridiculous policy and has been described as such by members of the ALP themselves. The insanity of it is demonstrated by the fact that, as a result of continuing to refuse further expansion of Australia's uranium exports, not one gram less uranium will be consumed by the world. That is the nub of it. One is able to understand those people who believe that uranium is environmentally dangerous in the world today, that we should not mine it and that, instead, we should use more expensive sources of energy. If Australia had all of the world's uranium, it would be understandable if the government of the day adopted a policy that it would not sell it because it would be morally wrong for people to use it and that policy would prevent their getting into trouble with it. However, the insanity is that this policy works directly in the best interests of other countries.
I am sure that in Canada, South Africa and Russia, the big suppliers of uranium to the world, the champagne corks were popping when the decision was made to maintain the current federal ALP policy because that means huge sums for those uranium exporters. It does not mean huge sums only for the next 3 years while this policy is frozen, it means huge sums for many years because an exporter has to enter and capture a market for however long the uranium contracts are signed, probably 10 or 20 years. That demonstrates the extent of the insanity of this federal ALP policy. It has no effect whatsoever in terms of reducing world uranium consumption. Its only effect is economically detrimental to Australia and, of course, in our particular situation, it has a very real effect on the Territory because 20% of the world's low-cost reserves are located within our borders and we and the Aboriginal traditional owners of the uranium province are the victims of this insane policy.
The tragedy of it for Territorians is not only the outcome of the conference but the fact that Labor in the Northern Territory cannot have a singular view even on a subject of such importance to the Territory. It is an absurd situation. The Leader of the Opposition - and I say that it was to his credit - stood up and said that he would go and fight for a change in the policy. I believe Senator Bob Collins said exactly the same. He has been an advocate for a
Page 167
change to the policy for some time. But, what are they working against? They are working against not only radical green forces interstate, but against their own ALP colleagues and party machine right here in the Northern Territory and, of course, the likes of the Territory's member of the House of Representatives, Hon Warren Snowdon, who has been very noticeable by the absence of any media communication from him in the last several weeks. No doubt, as a member of the left faction, he has been working very hard to undermine any work done by the Leader of the Opposition and Senator Collins to ensure that their objectives were not achieved. Unfortunately, this man was elected by Territorians to represent their interests in Canberra. In addition to that, the local ALP machine has delegates at these conferences. I am not sure how many votes they have but, as I understand it, being controlled primarily by the left-wing, their policy is also to oppose any expansion of uranium mining.
This is an absurd situation. I am sure that the Leader of the Opposition has pondered the untenable position in which his party has placed him in recent times. It has made him look really silly. I thought that he might come into the House yesterday wearing a black arm-band as a result of the treatment he has received from his colleagues and their lack of support. Perhaps I could suggest that he might think about doing the honourable thing and becoming an independent or whatever. He might join our colleague on the crossbenches. That would be at least an honourable move rather than his continuing to lead a party that is a shambles and that will not back him on the issues on which Territorians support him.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr PERRON: They will not back you for one minute.
Mr Speaker, I have contemplated also raising this issue briefly with the Prime Minister at the next COAG meeting - and I will attempt to do so - when we discuss the Hilmer principles of competition policy in Australia because this must be the classic example. Although we are told that the Prime Minister is a supporter of more uranium mining, he is hampered by his party from allowing Australia to become internationally competitive in this most lucrative and important area for Australia's economy, and seems happy enough to sit back and let those opportunities pass by. I believe that is a terrible shame for the country and, in particular, for the Northern Territory. The outcome of the conference was a very sad day for the Northern Territory.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016