the Prime Minister had an important speech on energy and uranium, but on energy, what was the key point in your mind?


BARRIE CASSIDY: I will raise those questions with the Foreign Minister, who follows you, Paul. But just earlier in the week, the Prime Minister had an important speech on energy and uranium, but on energy, what was the key point in your mind?
PAUL KELLY: On energy, Barrie, he outlined his vision of Australia as a very significant global energy power. This is based on the great expansion in global energy demand which will come in coming decades particularly from the developing countries and notably China and India. And, of course, he outlined the enormously strong position Australia has as a supplier in terms of coal, uranium and natural gas. He did balance this by talking about the need to take into account environmental considerations, by curbing greenhouse gas emissions and by changing the way we both produce and consume energy. At the end of the day he was very critical again of the Kyoto process which he regards overall as a fraud and a failure. So I think the main theme really was that Australia is not prepared on environmental grounds to sacrifice the enormous economic opportunities available for it in terms of global energy markets.
BARRIE CASSIDY: And then on uranium, of course, it's not just the economy, but politics start to come into play?
PAUL KELLY: It sure is politics. I think every time John Howard talks about uranium, you get the impression that he's only too prepared to see uranium emerge as a significant issue in the 2007 election context. Again, he stressed the upcoming investment worldwide in nuclear power. He made it quite clear that his own preference is for uranium enrichment. He does draw a separation between uranium enrichment on the one hand as an option for Australia and nuclear power, that those things don't necessarily go together, they are separate. He attacked the Labor Party for its anti-nuclear theology. He made it quite clear that he wants these decisions taken on merit after the report of the inquiry towards the end of this year. But I think overall, on these issues of energy, uranium and greenhouse, what we're likely to see is a very significant and greater dispute between the Howard Government and Kim Beazley's Labor Party next year.
BARRIE CASSIDY: Paul, thanks for your time this morning.
PAUL KELLY: Thanks, Barrie.
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