Although the previous Prime Minister John Howard had cleared the way for uranium shipments to India for peaceful purposes and electricity generation last August, this was rendered redundant by the change of guard in the Australian government last November. Howard’s Liberal Party lost to the Labour Party.

“In this wonderful economic time, for India , the biggest barrier at the moment is probably power supply and so energy needs for India is critical. And if nuclear power is going to assist India in one part of that, then it’s a good thing,” said Linford, who is a key official in the free trade agreement talks between India and Australia .

Incidentally, the Liberals’ foreign affairs spokesperson Andrew Robb today, was quoted by agencies speaking in favour of uranium exports to India. “It was hypocritical for the government to sell uranium to countries like China and Russia which, despite being part of the pact, use uranium for weapons,” he said. Selling uranium to India would help the nation significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and help deepen bilateral ties, he stressed.