No-new-mines policy axed Proxy votes deciding factor
ANDREW FRASER
29 Apr, 2007 08:47 AM
OPPOSITION Leader Kevin Rudd narrowly got his way on an expanded uranium-mining policy yesterday, after ALP national conference delegates were pressured not to vote against the new leader.

Expansion opponents had been insisting they had the numbers to retain the "no-new-mines" policy but the ballot went against them 205-190 with proxy votes.

Mr Rudd succeeded while giving his opponents the appearance of a close finish.

Sources said leaders of the Right faction, supportive of Mr Rudd's position, had influenced up to 30 of its members not to follow their consciences and vote against expansion.

A number of Mr Rudd's front-bench colleagues split with their factions' formal positions.

Deputy leader Julia Gillard, Senate leader Chris Evans and Martin Ferguson all of the Left voted for Mr Rudd's change while deputy Senate leader Stephen Conroy of the Right voted for an amendment by left-wing frontbencher Anthony Albanese opposing the expansion plan.

The Albanese amendment was seconded by unaligned shadow environment minister Peter Garrett. Left-wing frontbenchers Kim Carr, Jenny Macklin and party president John Faulkner voted for the Albanese amendment.

Mr Albanese denied the forced use of proxies had made the vote dishonest.

"They're the rules of the Labor Party. People make those decisions. I certainly am not critical of anyone for any part that they played in this vote. People make their own decisions."

Mr Garrett did not dwell on the proxying process, saying he welcomed the positive contributions to the debate.

"It's been an important issue to me for a long time and it will remain an important issue," he said, but submitted to front-bench solidarity post-vote. "I will accept it and I do accept it."

Mr Rudd led the debate, saying Labor's uranium policy had to be modified to recognise the reality that Australia held 40 per cent of the world's uranium and would soon be home to the biggest uranium mine. The nation also had a rich range of energy options.

"That's why we have to continue exporting uranium," he said.

Many pro-Rudd delegates derided the nonsense of the old policy, which has since 1982 sought to say that Labor is limiting mining while exports of uranium have actually trebled.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann, who seconded the Rudd position, said, "We have to go forward rather than back to a policy that was illogical, impractical and out of date."

Senator Evans, who earlier this year announced he had changed his position after 25 years, said he understood the passion around the debate better than most.

"I lost the vote inside the family."

The Greens don't want any more mines - coal or otherwise. They don't have much of a voice or choice at present.


Quote:

BlOoDy RiPpEr wrote on Aug 15^th, 2010 at 9:33am:


I shall take a look.