Australia set to sell uranium to India

The move would allow the deal despite India not being a signatory to the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Government sources have told The Australian newspaper that the cabinet's National Security Committee will consider the submission.

Prime Minister John Howard is reported to have told colleagues that the public cannot understand why Australia exports uranium to China but refuses to export to India.

China has been accused in the past of complicity in exporting nuclear technology but India has an impeccable record of never having done so.