PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 1 May 1977
ELECTORATE TALK
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen: You will have~ read and
heard lately, expressions of concern) about the worldts
resources of energy producing minerals. The rise in oil
prices around the world has dislocated economies evrerywhere.
Australia has enormous resources of coal and over several
years of exploratio-n and endeavour, we had reached 70% selfsufficiency
in oil needs. Because of the neglect of the
former Administration, this proportion has begun to decline.
Nevertheless, Australia, compared with countries of the Northern
Hemisphere, is still comparatively well off. Tha~ t does not
mean that the Government is not active.
I have asked the Minister for National Resources, Mr Anthony,
to prepare a study of the nation's energy requirements and
resources as a basis for the policy decisions that obviously
will have to be made. That paper will cover resources, the
impact of developing technology, and the nature of research
programmes being carried out with Government funds.
I have also asked Mr Anthony and the Minister for Science,
Senator Webster to cooperate in another study on solar energy
research and development, for, as well as coal, Australia has
plenty of sunshine although not perhaps in Wannon during some
of the winter months.
Apart from our own survey, we are also looking intuo the possibil. ity
of inviting the United States to engage in a cooperative
programme of research into solar energy.
There is another asset which Australia also has in enormous
quantities. We have about 20% of the Western worldts known
quantities, and readily available resources of uranium. At
the time of a world energy shortage, that fact gives Australia
a global responsibility.
Our policies in this area are waiting on the Second and Final
Report of Mr Justice Fox's Environmental Inquiry on Uranium
Mining. We expect that Second Report to be ready early next
month.
Despite the fact that the Government's uranium development
policy remains undecided whilst we wait for the final Fox
Report, the Government has seen from the moment it took
office the need to examine carefully the question of safeguards
on exports of uranium, and the need to support nuclear nonprolif
eration.
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After his report is completed Mr Justice Fox will be travelling
overseas, I have asked him and he has agreed to pursue
inquiries relating to non-proliferation and to report to me
personally on his return. I will regard his advise as important
in enabling the Government to pursue the most effective policy
against proliferation which is a matter of great international
concern no matter what the final report on the mining of uranium.
Soon after President Carter took office I wrote to him giving
him strong assurances of support for strengthened nuclear
non-proliferation. These same assurances were also sent to the
Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Trudeau.
I assured President Carter that we shared their concerns about
the need to support fully the objective of strengthening nuclear
non-proliferation. I informed him that we were aware of the
new thinking that was going on internationally on the need for
adequate controls of the nuclear industry and that Australia would
be requiring stringent controls on any uranium or nuclear material
supplied from Australia.
I stressed that our final decisions would only be taken in the
light of the full reports of Mr Justice Foxts Inquiry,
President Carter responded warmly, saying he was glad to get
my letter of support as he was deeply concerned over the
implications of further nuclear weapons proliferation for
our common security and well-being.
President Carter noted that Australia'ts potential as a major
supplier of uranium gave Australia a particular interest in
the desire to strengthen nuclear non-proliferation and that
Australia could play a vital role with the United States and
Canada in reducing the dangers.
President Carter sought to have further consultations with
Australia. Since that ex change of correspondence, he announced
his Administration's new nuclear policy which is aimed at
strengthening nuclear non-proliferation. Senior officers of
the Department of Foreign Affairs and National Resources are
now in Washington having discussions with the Administration
about the U. S. Nuclear Policy which President Carter announced
on April 7.
In any event, we would only export uranium with the most
stringent and comprehensive safeguards, and strictly for
peaceful non-military purposes. Exports of uranium under these
conditions of tight control and international surveillance,
would strengthen rather than weaken non-proliferation
objectives and so prevent further spread of nuclear weapons.
Countries that are relying on nuclear power receiving
adequate supplies of uranium are more likely to postpone
the use of plutonium as a nuclear fuel.
Whilst awaiting the Final Report of the Ranger Uranium Environmental
Inquiry, the Government has been investigating and developing the
best and most effective safeguards to apply to any future exports
of uranium. Your Government is aware of its obligations and
responsibilities, and will not fail them.