Australia's Labour government bans uranium sale to India

15 January 2008

Mumbai: The new Labour government in Australia has reversed a decision by the previous government and banned any sale of uranium to India, which has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith told India's nuclear negotiator Shyam Saran today that Australia would not sell uranium to New Delhi unless it signs the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In 2007, the government of former prime minister John Howard had overturned a long-standing policy of not selling uranium to countries outside the NPT and agreed a deal with India.

The current move reverses the policy of Howard who was voted out late last year.

Saran was made special envoy by prime minister Manmohan Singh to build international support for the Indo-US nuclear pact among the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which includes Australia.

The suppliers group sets export controls governing trade of civilian nuclear material and technology to prevent exports being used to make nuclear weapons.