PM anticipates intense nuclear debate. 19/05/2006. ABC News Online


Prime Minister John Howard says he expects an intense debate about nuclear energy in the next 12 months.
Mr Howard is in Canada, where he says he will discuss issues such as uranium mining and nuclear energy with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Mr Howard has repeated his assertion that a domestic nuclear power industry is inevitable, but that it must be economically viable to proceed.
He has also told Southern Cross Radio that high oil prices are changing the way people and governments think about the issue of nuclear power.
"It could be closer than some people would've thought a short while ago," he said.
"I hope we have an intense debate on the subject over the months ahead."
In other developments:
Prime Minister John Howard has been given the rare honour of addressing a joint sitting of the Canadian Parliament. (Full Story)