Part 2

It is also doubtful that IAEA inspections could ensure that a transfer to a safeguarded facility took place, or that it was not subsequently transferred to military use. As a nuclear weapons state, China can choose which of its facilities are safeguarded and which are not. It can also decide –on national security grounds- to remove facilities from safeguards. Even if IAEA inspections take place, errors are inevitable. China could decide at any time to pull out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and no longer subject any of its facilities to IAEA inspections.

The uranium export agreement contains no provision for Australian government representatives to inspect and monitor exported uranium or the facilities in which it is used. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) can be expected to be as negligent in tracking uranium exports to China as it has been with wheat sales to Iraq.
In any case, DFAT’s monitoring of exported uranium (and by-products such as plutonium) amounts to nothing more than checking the sums in records compiled by China and the IAEA.

Howard did not make as good a trade over the sale of uranium to China as he could.

He could have sought an undertaking that Australia would not be targeted by Chinese ICBMs in the event that a conflict arises over Taiwan–remember we have several American military communications bases in Australia and our ports and airfields are used by nuclear weapon carrying ships and planes. Since it is almost certain we would be an allied with the U.S it would be likely they will be targeted regardless of any agreement, but just in case we don't buy into another US folly and maintain our 'one China' stance it might help avert a strike.

A few retorts:

Pericles:
the "incentive to push the button is at its lowest historical point"

I'd suggest that there is a very high chance of nuclear bunker busters being used in Iran see Seymour Hersh's article in the New Yorker www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?060417fa_fact

and also this article www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=67&ItemID=10071

So it can't be the lowest point.

While Australia has a lot of the worlds uranium as gusi mentioned it may only last 50 years. The concentration in some mines is getting low and the amount of low grade ore that needs to be processed is increasing and therefore the energy needed to mine it.

MikeM is quite right:

"so before it even leaves the mine, uranium is responsible for squirting a hefty dose of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere…mine's appetite for diesel fuel for trucks and mobile machinery)."

and

"Incidentally anyone who thinks that nuclear power is pollution-free, has failed to account for energy used to construct mines and power plants, extract and refine uranium, dispose of nuclear waste securely and eventually dismantle and dispose of the plants themselves"

This is spot on.

Advocates of nuclear power how would you feel if the total nuclear power cycle used more energy than it produced?

Renewables require energy to be put into place, it might take all of the remaining oil and a good deal of the coal to bootstrap the process but it may be our only chance.

Howard did not make as good a trade over the sale of uranium to China as he could Part 2

Did I hear that China wished to have a hand in building new uranium mining facilities in Australia? Does this mean the equipment will be built in China and shipped here? Does it mean a Chinese construction and mining workforce in Australia? Is this Howards vision for value adding?

Can anyone calculate the size of a solar photovoltaic array that could be built using the energy required to mine the uranium destined for China or from the resource taxes raised?

How much does the taxpayer hope to gain vs the mining companies and shareholder? What proportion of the shareholders are Australian?

It strikes me as absurd that Tassy Hydro and a Chinese company can produce wind turbines for Chinese use and our pathetic governments can't produce a renewable solution for domestic use.

Great points, Deus!

I also want to mention that no government seems to take the Aboriginal people’s opinions and views in those remote areas seriously, however valid they may be. A typical arrogant out of sight-out of mind policy! Out of who’s sight and mind?

Not only are they concerned for their own wellbeing (think about water contamination, tailings or wastes management, including run off, and health and safety) but they will also be concerned that something that in fact comes from their well-loved land -the area they connect with and are one with- can potentially do serious damage and cause death in other parts of the world.
The same goes for all the people who will suffer in developing countries. Where are their rights?

Are all the dangers connected with nuclear energy *really* worth it for such a depletable supply –remember it is anticipated to give us a supply for just 50 years at the most? BTW the world’s electricity usage only accounts for 16 percent of our total energy use! So uranium could never give us more than 16 percent, even if ALL our electricity would come from nuclear plants!

We have the sun and the dessert, we have the wind and the waves, and so much power can be obtained from those natural sources if we only set our mind to developing it properly. Put the money towards research and development of technologies like CSP (Concentrating Solar Power) for instance using solar dish-engine systems. This is in my view, a much better and safer solution than developing nuclear energy, which will be insufficient to even supply the full 16 percent of electricity the world needs.

Ever seen nations create wars over a breeze, bomb the sun, or bribe a few waves of the ocean? These sources will be available to every country. No more dependability but self-sufficiency and more peace for every one!

Why are we so scared about the fact that China will use the Australian uranium to develop a nuclear bomb,which they have the right to. Their not the ones who used it for unjustified purposes just so they don't lose WWII....hmmm ayyy.

Dear Concise you obvioulsy do not know anything about the history of the Chinese communist regime. I suggest you read the 9 commenteries
at http://ninecommentaries.com/

Since the publication of this editorial series which is a expose of the brutal violent history of theri rise to take over power and what they did to maintain their rule up to today over 10 million chinese poepol in China have resigned from the communist regimes party. About 20,000 each day resign . Theirdays are numbered...

They have killed 80 million of theri own people in the 56 years of their rule in so called peace times in China.
And it has never stopped the killing continues each and every day with the worlds largest Genocide lastiing nearly 7 years masacaring Falun Gong practitioners harvesting their organs for world supply of organs etc. PLease read at least one chapter of the 9 commentaries and you will see why we are so concerned about selling urnanium to the Chinese regime.