Prime Minister Gillard's announcement that she will seek a modify in Labor's platform to permit uranium exports to India is problematic for Australia's non-proliferation policy and reputation. I share the concern about the obvious failure to extract anything from India in return for a major policy shift, and the implication that uranium exports to India will soon develop into the law as soon as ALP policy has been changed, without the due process frequently reserved for changes of policy of this magnitude.
But let's not throw our hand up in the air just yet. A change in ALP policy is the backing a Gillard Government will need previous to any negotiations can commence with India, negotiations which might yield net reimbursement to Australia's non-proliferation agenda.First, the proposal to modify decades of Australian policy on which countries we sell uranium to is not entirely capricious. There are some sound policy reason for exporting uranium to India, mainly strategic and environmental: India is a rising power with which we should found a strategic relationship. As thoroughly irksome as this is, India has made it clear that the value of a closer relationship is right to use to Australian uranium.
India's energy needs are insatiable and Nuclear energy will help limit the damage to the global environment from its growing energy use. The world also needs India to be an lively participant in the fight against proliferation and in running emerging nuclear tensions in its region. As it is not and never will be a member of the NPT, other mechanisms for as well as India in these efforts are needed.
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