Responding to the recent announcement, Senator Hanson said the agreement exposed what she described as Labor’s “energy hypocrisy”. “India plans to produce three or four times Australia’s entire electricity output from nuclear technology alone, splitting Australian uranium atoms to achieve this goal,” Senator Hanson said.

“Labor’s energy hypocrisy knows no bounds. They ban nuclear energy in Australia but happily export uranium for this purpose overseas.”

The criticism follows the signing of a new Australia–India Joint Statement on Energy Security during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Melbourne, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on energy security, resilient supply chains and the clean energy transition.

As part of the agreement, the two leaders welcomed the signing of the administrative arrangement enabling Australian uranium exports to India for peaceful purposes under the 2015 Australia–India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.

The arrangement is expected to support India’s growing non-fossil fuel electricity generation while creating additional opportunities for Australia’s resources sector.

The joint statement also commits both countries to closer cooperation on renewable energy, critical minerals, energy supply chains and the continued trade of coal, natural gas, diesel and other fuels.

It also welcomed progress under the India–Australia Renewable Energy Partnership, including the opening of the Rooftop Solar Training Academy in Gujarat, and a refreshed Memorandum of Understanding between Geoscience Australia and the Geological Survey of India to support critical minerals exploration.

Prime Minister Albanese said Australia and India were working together to build resilient and sustainable energy systems.

“India is an important and reliable energy partner for Australia, and we look forward to continuing to enjoy a mutually beneficial energy trading relationship.”

He added that Australia’s natural resources were vital to global energy security and said the country looked forward to becoming “a reliable, trusted supplier of uranium to India.”

Senator Hanson argued that while India plans to significantly expand its nuclear power capacity over the coming decades, Australia continues to prohibit nuclear energy despite holding more than a quarter of the world’s known uranium reserves.

She also criticised the government’s broader energy policies, claiming Australia was shutting down coal-fired power stations while continuing to export coal and natural gas overseas. “It makes no sense for Australia, with more than a quarter of the planet’s proven uranium reserves, to ban uranium mining in three states and ban nuclear energy altogether,” she said.

“We’re even supposed to be buying nuclear-powered submarines, but we can’t have nuclear-powered cities, towns and critical industries.”

The One Nation leader reiterated her party’s commitment to lifting Australia’s ban on nuclear power and proposed constructing a 1,400-megawatt advanced pressurised water reactor in New South Wales, arguing nuclear energy would provide reliable, low-emissions baseload power alongside Australia’s existing resources sector.

The Australia–India energy agreement forms part of a broader package of initiatives announced during Prime Minister Modi’s visit, aimed at deepening cooperation in energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, trade and investment as both nations seek to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Australia–India Joint Statement on Energy Security during their meeting in Melbourne, reaffirming their commitment to secure, reliable and sustainable energy supplies.

The agreement highlights cooperation across traditional energy sources, renewable energy, critical minerals and future technologies as both nations navigate global energy challenges and accelerate the transition towards cleaner energy systems.

A key milestone is the completion of administrative arrangements allowing Australian uranium exports to India under the 2015 Australia–India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, exclusively for peaceful purposes and under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

Prime Minister Albanese said Australia and India shared a commitment to strengthening energy security and building resilient supply chains. “India is an important and reliable energy partner for Australia, and we look forward to continuing to enjoy a mutually beneficial energy trading relationship,” he said.

“Australia’s natural resources are vital for other countries’ energy security and stability, and we look forward to becoming a reliable, trusted supplier of uranium to India.”

The two leaders also welcomed progress under the India–Australia Renewable Energy Partnership, including the opening of the Rooftop Solar Training Academy in Gujarat, which aims to support skills development and solar energy expansion.

The partnership will also strengthen collaboration between Geoscience Australia and the Geological Survey of India through a renewed memorandum of understanding focused on resource mapping, scientific exchanges and critical mineral exploration.

Prime Minister Modi said the latest agreements represented significant progress across multiple sectors of the bilateral relationship.

“Today’s talks have unparalleled outcomes in areas such as renewable energy, climate action, nuclear energy, critical minerals, technology, education and more.”

He added that Australia and India were also working towards accelerating the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), saying the deal would be “balanced, ambitious and beneficial for both countries.”

The Joint Statement recognises Australia’s role as a major supplier of resources, including coal and liquefied natural gas to India, while India remains an important supplier of refined petroleum products to Australia.

Both nations committed to maintaining stable energy flows, encouraging investment across the energy value chain and strengthening regional energy resilience, including for Pacific Island countries.

The announcement forms part of a broader series of agreements unveiled during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Australia, covering defence and security, education, technology, culture, trade and sport.

The leaders said cooperation on energy and resources would play a key role in supporting economic growth, supply chain resilience and the long-term Australia–India strategic partnership.

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The proposed legislation would repeal restrictions that have been in place since 1986, when New South Wales introduced laws prohibiting uranium mining and limiting nuclear-related development within the state. The bill must still pass the Legislative Assembly before becoming law.

While Australia is often perceived as having a blanket prohibition on uranium mining, no nationwide ban currently exists. Uranium mining is already permitted in parts of Australia, including South Australia and the Northern Territory, and the country remains one of the world’s largest uranium exporters. However, uranium policy differs between states, resulting in a fragmented regulatory landscape.

Supporters of the repeal argue that New South Wales should be able to participate in a growing global uranium market as many countries expand or reconsider nuclear energy to strengthen energy security and reduce emissions. They also argue that Australia’s existing policy settings are inconsistent, given the country exports uranium internationally while some states continue to prohibit mining domestically.

Opponents continue to raise concerns about environmental risks, radioactive waste management, and the long-term implications of expanding uranium and nuclear-related industries.

The Upper House vote is being viewed as politically significant because pro-nuclear legislation has historically struggled to gain parliamentary support in Australia. Although the bill’s future remains uncertain, the result reflects growing momentum behind discussions on uranium mining and nuclear energy policy nationwide.

Even if New South Wales lifts its state-level prohibitions, federal restrictions on nuclear power generation would still remain in place, meaning commercial nuclear power plants would continue to be prohibited under Commonwealth law.

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The post NSW Upper House vote signals shift in Australia’s nuclear debate first appeared on The Australia Today.