Australian opposition leader Kim Beazley on Monday proposed scrapping his party's long-standing policy of blocking new uranium mines — a U-turn that could pave the way for a significant increase in production.
Australia holds 40 percent of the world's known uranium reserves but falls behind Canada in production because the Labor Party has capped the number of mines at just three since 1984.
Although Labor is in federal opposition, it controls all state governments which in turn control all mining and explorations licenses.
Beazley called for a re-think Monday and said he would seek to change the policy at the party's annual conference next year and focus instead on strong export safeguards.
"We must move from a focus on no new mines to a focus on the terms and conditions under which we export uranium," he said in a statement.
He is likely to meet strong opposition within the left of centre party, however.
Labor's environment spokesman Anthony Albanese is among several high profile lawmakers who want the restriction to remain.
Beazley's announcement comes as a taskforce appointed by Prime Minister John Howard examines whether Australia should build nuclear power stations and begin enriching uranium fuel for export.
