Australian PM rules out storing nuclear waste from overseas

SYDNEY (AFP) — Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out storing radioactive waste from overseas in Australia, after a government-appointed taskforce said it would explore the business case for establishing nuclear dumps.

Howard has called for a wide-ranging debate on nuclear energy in Australia, which has the world's largest known reserves of uranium but no nuclear power plants.

The taskforce is examing whether Australia should adopt nuclear power, begin enriching uranium for export and expand uranium mining.

The group, headed by respected nuclear physicist and ...