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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-12-01 Daily Xml
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URANIUM SALES, INDIA

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Will the minister inform the house of the effect that selling uranium to India will have on the future prosperity of our state?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his question. The Australian Labor Party is holding its national conference this weekend and I am a delegate. I will be attending and supporting our Prime Minister and our Premier to see that the ban on selling uranium to India is lifted.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Australia is in the right place at the right time and South Australia is in the right place at the right time. It is this generation that will rise to the challenge and meet the growing demand in India. India is a growing economic powerhouse. Selling uranium to India will help open up new markets for South Australia and, indeed, encourage further trade with India. India is experiencing massive industrial expansion and, undoubtedly, nuclear energy will play a key role in providing an efficient and clean energy future in a carbon-constrained world.

The truth is that there are those who doubt selling uranium to India. This government is not one of those doubters. We want to fully engage with India to make sure that we can provide them with a guaranteed supply of safe, accessible uranium. South Australia has a natural advantage when it comes to uranium. We have three of Australia's four uranium mines, and Olympic Dam itself has 40 per cent of the world's known low-cost uranium reserves. We have world-class deposits, world-class operations and world-class opportunities. The future of uranium mining is strong, and the decision by the Australian government to export uranium to India will only make it stronger.

The South Australian government is unashamedly pro-uranium mining. This government supports our Prime Minister, and this move will create thousands of jobs and further secure the future prosperity for the state and our economy. It is this generation that is unlocking untold wealth for South Australians. It is this generation that will lead the nation in terms of exports to India. This government is forging ahead. We are going to create new partnerships with India and we are going to sell them uranium.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Pisoni: You blocked it 30 years ago, remember?

The SPEAKER: Member for Unley, you are warned for the second time.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Member for Unley will stop interjecting across the floor.

An honourable member: You will be thrown out for the rest of the year!

Mr Pisoni: Yes, I know; tough!

The SPEAKER: And the first two days of the next session.

The SPEAKER: Member for Davenport.

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