Australian Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam says the Abbott government has bizarrely linked its India uranium deal to the uranium trade with the Russian Federation, which it abruptly suspended this week in light of tensions in the Ukraine.

"Australia will now be directly complicit in a nuclear arms race in South Asia, with India moving to lock in foreign uranium supplies for power generation so it can preserve its domestic uranium for weapons production," said Senator Ludlam.

Confirmation that the Australian Government has suspended potential uranium sales to the Russian Federation has been welcomed by the Greens, after questions placed by Adam Bandt MP in the House and Senator Scott Ludlam in the Senate.

"The Australian Greens have argued that uranium sales to the Russian Federation should never have been contemplated in the first place," Senator Ludlam said.

Greens senator Scott Ludlam has questioned the wisdom of developing a uranium mining industry in WA following the second leak of toxic material from a major uranium mine in the space of a few days.

Radioactive slurry from a holding tank at the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory spewed into the environment on December 7 and today it was revealed that Rio Tinto’s Rossing Mine in Namibia was also leaking.

The Australian Government is prepared to abandon all responsibility for regulating the uranium industry, in direct contradiction to written commitments given by Environment Minister Greg Hunt.

In May 2013, then opposition environment spokesperson Greg Hunt said the Commonwealth would retain control over decisions involving nuclear matters and projects for which state governments are likely to have a significant conflict of interest as the proponent - both of which would cover uranium mining.

Greens Nuclear Issues Spokesperson, Senator for WA Scott Ludlam has warned potential investors that Toro Energy will not be able to proceed with a much expanded plan for mining uranium across a vast area of WA’s Goldfields and Murchison regions without the environmental assessment process being begun again. He made the comments as Toro prepares for its AGM in Perth tomorrow (FRI 18/10/2013) where Toro will seek shareholders’ approval for a $37 million acquisition of the Lake Maitland project, 90km from Toro’s existing Wiluna Project.

While nuclear power is in retreat around the globe, advocates of clean energy had ‘Better Things To Do' than protest the Uranium Conference held in Fremantle today - attending the 'Better Things To Do' renewable energy industry breakfast.

"There's a reason the Australian Uranium Conference shrinks year on year. Nuclear power is in retreat across the globe. Electricity generation from nuclear power plants dropped by a historic seven per cent in 2012, adding to the then record drop of four per cent in 2011," said Senator Scott Ludlam.

The Federal Government made a mockery of public consultation by allowing three working days for initial submissions on opening up the Woomera Prohibited Area to miners, Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

"On Wednesday 8 May Defence Minister Stephen Smith and resources Minister Gary Gray released the draft exposure of legislation to increase access to Woomera Prohibited Area to miners, and three working days later on 13 May the submission period closed. It's not good enough," said Senator Ludlam.

A deal to sell uranium to the United Arab Emirates will open the door to nuclear waste returning to Australia, the Greens warned today.

Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear policy, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, raised the alarm at the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties today, pointing out a dangerous provision in the proposed treaty to allow the return of nuclear materials.