“If it sells uranium to India and China, the Howard government will be flouting two crucial conditions under which Australian uranium exports have been subject: buyer nations must be signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and they must allow international inspection of their reactors,” Prof Broinowski said.  “ India is not a signatory to the NPT and China indicates it won't allow inspections of its reactors.  How dangerously irresponsible can we get?”

As Cabinet Ministers Costello, Downer, Nelson and Macfarlane – the "Four Toxic Tenors" – are singing the uranium industry's song, a growing number of Australians are cautioning the Government against deeper involvement in the dangerous nuclear chain.

David Noonan from the Australian Conservation Foundation said: "The real nuclear agenda is to double Australia 's uranium exports.  Our safeguards and proliferation responsibilities look set to be fatally compromised to suit BHP Billiton’s expansion plans for Roxby Downs and other uranium concessions around the country.”

Peter Robertson from the Environment Centre NT said: “The Territory Government was elected with a clear ‘no new uranium mines’ and ‘no waste dump’ policy and mandate. However, as is usual when the nuclear industry is involved, democratic processes and environmental, social and economic objections are brushed aside in the interests of promoting an industry with an appalling track record in the NT and elsewhere.”

The report was written by Dr Jim Green and is released by Friends of the Earth, ACF, Greenpeace, the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, the Public Health Association of Australia and Climate Action Network Australia.

It is also endorsed by the peak conservation groups in the four states being targeted by the uranium mining industry – the Conservation Council of WA, the Environment Centre NT, the Conservation Council of SA and the Queensland Conservation Council.