The Wire

Australia’s Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is in New York this week to attend the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. At the forum, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on world leaders to reinforce their commitment to a treaty aimed at reducing the threat from nuclear arms. Yet a Citizens Weapons Inspection attempted by Greenpeace this morning ? at the headquarters of Silex Systems, based at the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor ? has called into question Australia’s apparent commitment to non-proliferation. The work carried out by Silex Systems ? a private company researching uranium enrichment ? is claimed to be a peaceful use of technology, and necessary for medical reasons. Yet Greenpeace accuses the government of hypocrisy in supporting the research being carried out, because it could easily be applied to the production of materials used in nuclear weapons. The Wire’s Anja Kueppers was there this morning when Greenpeace attempted to stage the citizens weapons inspection of Silex Systems, and asked to speak with Dr Michael Goldsworthy, Silex Systems Managing Director.