Uranium sale to India “would not start automatically” after the Labour Government's reversal of a ban against its export to the country, the Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, said today.
Stating that the policy change was aimed at cultivating good ties with the rising Asian power, Mr Rudd added that it “won't automatically translate into a beginning of sales,” according to Australian news agency AAP reported today.
“India will first have to make strong commitments under a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement,” he said. “I take my non-proliferation responsibilities deadly seriously,” he added.
“This will require fundamental commitments from the Indian government in a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement with Australia of an identical type that we have with the 20 other countries to whom we export uranium at present.” Mr Rudd said he would be taking a “hard line” as Australia's principle negotiator on any such agreement.