Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today warned voters that Prime Minister Howard's nuclear agenda of reactors, enrichment and waste dumps is ready to go on November 25. Equally voters should be wary of the ALP's support for more uranium mines and exports.

The only way to ensure scrutiny of the nuclear industry is to elect Greens to the Senate.

Senator Milne said "Australians ought to be worried that Australia's rapidly growing involvement in the global nuclear industry has been shrouded in a code of silence during this campaign. It is a sign that neither major party wants to talk about exporting uranium to Russia and China, with all the risks of it being passed on to Iran and Burma.

"Prime Minister Howard's plans for a nuclear Australia, hidden carefully during the campaign, are back on the election agenda today, thanks to questioning by Kerry O'Brien last night.

"I hope Mr O'Brien does not let Kevin Rudd off the hook on uranium exports when he interviews him tonight. If the ALP think nuclear power is too dangerous for Australians, why is it safe for Indonesians and our other neighbours? Why is it safe to sell nuclear material to Putin's Russia?

"Mr Howard clearly wants Australia to move deeply into the global nuclear market. He repeats the obvious fact that nuclear power plants would be at least 15 years away, but glosses over the point that such a timeframe demands immediate action. In order to make nuclear power a reality even as far as 15 years away, he would need to invest massively in the next term of government in technical capacity in the nuclear industry.

"Make no mistake – if Mr Howard somehow wins the election, he will launch swiftly into his agenda to make Australia home to nuclear power, uranium enrichment and a global nuclear waste dump.

"The Greens' position is equally clear. Nuclear power is too slow, expensive and dangerous to be an effective climate change solution. We will do everything we can in the Senate to get Australia right out of the nuclear industry.

"The ALP's position on nuclear issues is half pregnant and hypocritical.

"The uranium miners and the nuclear industry have been very quiet during this campaign but make no mistake they are exerting huge pressure on the ALP. Ian Gould from Toro Energy told his shareholders this week 'it is clear in this changing dynamic that the anti-uranium mining policies of the WA, NSW and Queensland governments are looking increasingly anomalous, even within their own parties'.

"If Mr Rudd wins on Saturday, Australians will need Greens in the Senate to expose the rush for new mines and the dangers inherent in the agreement to sell uranium to increasingly dangerous regimes such as that of President Putin.

"The deal to sell uranium to Vladimir Putin, who has developed close nuclear ties with Iran, Syria, Burma and Indonesia, needs scrutiny. But the Howard controlled Senate blocked a Greens motion to have it examined."