Smith, on his part, told Saran that Australia could not supply uranium to India as per the Labour government’s policy unless it signed the NPT. To which Saran only said that Australia should take decisions on nuclear commerce on the basis of India’s impeccable nuclear non-proliferation record. Sources said Saran was not surprised by the
Australian stand since this was a long-standing policy of the Labour party that replaced John Howard’s government in Canberra.