Union to test out Beazley on nukes | The Nation | The Australian

LABOR faces a divisive internal debate on its opposition to nuclear energy next month, with one of the nation's most powerful unions planning to put the issue on the agenda of the party's NSW state conference.
In an early test of Kim Beazley's opposition to nuclear energy, the Australian Workers Union is spearheading the push to debate the policy by moving a motion to have the NSW Government investigate the viability of nuclear power.

The push is in defiance of the federal Opposition Leader's warnings that a nuclear power industry in Australia "simply does not stack up".

John Howard sought this week to continue the nuclear debate, signalling a white paper to outline options including nuclear power plants.

Yesterday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced he would pre-empt a government energy review to back the replacement of nuclear power plants to tackle global warming and rising reliance on imported energy.

"These facts put the replacement of nuclear power stations, a big push on renewables and a step change on energy efficiency, engaging both business and consumers, back on the agenda with a vengeance," he told business chiefs in London.

Australia's uranium industry, with 40 per cent of the world's reserves, is best placed to provide yellowcake to Britain, which joins China, India and even Indonesia as lucrative new export markets.

The motion set to spark debate on nuclear energy has been proposed by the NSW division of Bill Shorten's union, the AWU, which has led the push to relax the ALP's policy on uranium mining.

It calls on the Iemma Government "to undertake an investigation into the use of nuclear technology in the provision of energy as a supplement to existing sources in meeting the growing energy demands of NSW".

Some party heavyweights are are even pushing for the nuclear power debate to be pushed off the agenda at next month's meeting in anticipation of debate at the ALP's national conference in 2007.

However, NSW AWU president Mick Madden said yesterday he was well aware that any policy had to be formed at a national level but said "there's nothing wrong with the debate starting".

"We're not looking for a brawl but we want a debate because otherwise the conservatives just grab the agenda on this," Mr Madden said.

"We've heard the facts, that we have to look to alternative energy sources and whether we go solar or go nuclear. I think the sensible option is a combination."

The motion proposed by the AWU calls for debate on the "efficiency and effectiveness of nuclear energy meeting future energy demands of the state."

It also calls for investigation into the disposal of nuclear waste and any by-products and concerns about worker and community safety.

Former NSW Premier Bob Carr, a nuclear energy supporter, previously warned climate change posed as great a risk as terrorism.

However, AWU president Bill Ludwig said last night the question of nuclear energy was ultimately for next year's national conference to resolve.

"My view is: first things first. We've got to address the three mines uranium policy," he said.

"The national position is we are pro-uranium mining, we haven't debated nuclear power at a national level." Mr Shorten has previously warned the "jury was still out" on nuclear energy but it was time for a discussion.

Labor MP Martin Ferguson said yesterday Britain had no option but "to go nuclear".

"It's a fact of life, it's going to be debated. But in terms of Australia, we are so rich in resources it doesn't stack up," he said.

"It stacks up in China, Japan, France but in Australia we've got coal, gas, hydro and we've got solar which is under-utilised."

Mr Iemma declined to comment. A spokesman for Mr Beazley said he did not support a nuclear power industry in Australia.