Nuclear deal with India was opposed by Albanese a decade ago, should be opposed now

Nuclear deal with India was opposed by Albanese a decade ago, should be opposed now | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Nuclear deal with India was opposed by Albanese a decade ago, should be opposed now 2026-07-09 The Greens say the deal will help India expand its growing cache of nuclear weapons, heightening global nuclear risk and undermining Labor’s claims that the deal will promote peace The signing of the ‘Administrative Arrangement to enable further uranium exports to India’ by the Albanese Labor Government today is rewarding nuclear proliferation, by a person who opposed the dangerous trade a decade ago.

India refuses to sign either the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. This is because India has an estimated 190 nuclear weapons that it refuses to allow international inspectors to document. The Albanese Labor Government is legitimising India’s dangerous stance on nuclear weapons through this deal.

While the Government is claiming Australian exported uranium will not be for military use, it will be used to supplement the Indian supply so alternate nuclear stockpiles can be diverted to weapons. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimated over the past year alone India has made 10 additional nuclear warheads. There has only been one shipment of uranium to India since Labor and the Liberals initially opened the door to the trade a decade ago.

This minimal trade is due to concerns that Australian uranium could be used to build Indian nuclear weapons. Today’s expansion of what has been proven to be a failed and dangerous trade is concerning. In 2011, following the Fukushima disaster and increasing concerns about the dangers of the nuclear industry, Albanese opposed the proposal to allow uranium sales to India saying: “Under these circumstances, it is absurd that we should be expanding ours.” That is just as true today.

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson on Foreign Affairs said: “Labor is no friend of the campaign to end nuclear weapons. Right now we are seeing Albanese expanding uranium exports to a country that has nearly 200 nuclear weapons and refuses to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or the Test Ban Treaty. “By giving weight to the non-binding “nuclear suppliers group” Australia is actively undermining the legally enforceable principles set out in the non-proliferation treaty.

Make no mistake this harms global efforts to control, and ultimately eliminate, nuclear weapons. “The Albanese Labor Government has shown it will steamroll over the anti-nuclear movement whenever it suits them. They are doing it today with uranium sales to India and have doubled down on nuclear powered weapons with AUKUS. ”Prime Minister Albanese is doing more to promote nuclear weapons and the nuclear industry in this country than any other Australian Prime Minister since Menzies, who begged the UK for access to nuclear weapons.

“This sad surrender shows the hollowness of the Albanese Labor Government. “When the Liberals and One Nation pushed for nuclear power Labor managed to oppose it and highlight the risks, but when President Trump or Prime Minister Modhi put the slightest pressure on them they started cosplaying Dutton, and asking where to sign.” Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

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