P.M. sees uranium as key to sales

Press, 5 July 1977, Page 8

P.M. sees uranium as key to sales

NZPA Canberra, The Australian Prime Min- 1 lister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has said that if Europe wants 1 ■stable access to Australian uranium, it is reasonable for; Australia to seek stable ac-j cess to European trading; (markets. He said that on his visit, to Europe, the main matter! ’Europeans wished to discuss 1 [with him was uranium. ,1 “They look upon Australia las a potential reliable sup-, Iplier of energy for the (homes, for the factories, of (Europe, so that their people can be employed, and so that] Itheir standard of life can be (maintained. i “I made it plain that my (Government has yet to make! ]a decision on whether, uranium exports will be _al-i lowed, but it is a very im-| portant matter from their; point of view as well as from ’ ours. “I make the point now, as; I made it to them: That if! Europeans want stability of 11 access to supplies of energy, ito supplies of uranium, it is [reasonable enough for us to ■ seek to have that principle (of stability applied to access Ito their markets.” Mr Fraser said Australia had lost many markets in Europe because of policies of . high protection. ] He said the European Com-; "munity had the reputation! ’ for being in favour of low] .levels of ‘ protection, even; though in agriculture its 1 policies of protection had made it almost impossible for; ■ products from countries like Australia to be sold in Europe.