Pauline Hanson, leader of Australia's One Nation party, has strongly criticized the Albanese government's recent nuclear export deal with India, labeling it a significant double standard. The deal, signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, allows for the export of Australian uranium for peaceful purposes under a 2015 agreement.
Hanson declared that "Labor's energy hypocrisy knows no bounds," pointing to the government's efforts to phase out coal power plants domestically while exporting coal, and banning gas appliances amid ongoing gas exports. She also highlighted the government's investment in renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines and transmission lines, which she claims impact native habitats and farmland.
Australia currently bans nuclear energy under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998. This policy persists despite Australia holding approximately one-third of the world's uranium reserves, including one of the largest known deposits at South Australia's Olympic Dam mine.
"It makes no sense for Australia ... to ban uranium mining in three states and ban nuclear energy altogether," Hanson stated. She noted the perceived contradiction in Australia pursuing nuclear-powered submarines while prohibiting nuclear energy for its cities and industries.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the signing of the administrative arrangement, stating it would "facilitate Australian uranium exports to India to help increase the share of non-fossil fuel power capacity." Modi emphasized that access to Australian uranium presents a "historic opportunity" for India's clean energy initiatives, aiming to produce 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2047.
Hanson countered that India plans to generate a significant portion of its electricity using Australian uranium. She also announced that One Nation, if elected, would lift the ban on nuclear energy and propose building a 1400MW advanced pressurized water nuclear reactor in New South Wales. Hanson asserted that nuclear power is a safe and reliable energy source used in numerous countries worldwide, and that Australia cannot afford to maintain its current stance, which she termed "nuclear hypocrisy."