Senate Standing Committee on Economics
Resources, Energy and Tourism Portfolio
Budget Senate Estimates
Question: BR5
Senator Ludlam asked:
Senator LUDLAM: If you could check that for us; I think that is next week. In recent correspondence to national environment groups and other stakeholders, Minister Martin Ferguson referred to himself as the minister with the portfolio responsibility for nuclear policy. Is this correct and can you confirm-I do not know if I should throw to you, Minister-whether there has been a change of portfolio or a restructure?
Ms Constable: Uranium is the area that the department considers, of course. Uranium is a very important part of the nuclear fuel cycle. Consideration of uranium mining is always in the context of a full nuclear fuel cycle. The department has particular areas of responsibility within that nuclear fuel cycle, starting from the exploration and mining activities of uranium, out to radioactive waste issues. What we do not have responsibility for, because we do not have nuclear energy in Australia, is nuclear power, nuclear energy.