Uranium u-turn 'not due to US'

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has denied her decision to seek to overturn a ban on uranium sales to India is in order to fall in line with the US.

Now that the US is cooperating with India in the area of nuclear technology, refusing to budge due to India not signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty would be 'all pain and no gain', the Prime Minister said.

But it was irrelevant that President Obama was arriving in Australia this week.

"It suited me as the day to make an announcement", Ms Gillard said, saying it was not related to the US-India Civial Nuclear Agreement signed in 2005.

"It effectively lifted the de facto international ban on co-operation with India in this area."

She also pointed to other changes since then, including the Nuclear Suppliers Group giving India an exemption.

Selling uranium to India "would be good for the economy, and good for Australian jobs."

The principle reason was to drive Australian economic growth, Ms Gillard said.

Uranium already contributes $750m to the Australian economy, and is responsible for over 4,200 jobs, Ms Gillard said.

India is Australia's fourth biggest export market, worth nearly $16bn to Australia.

She said it would be another way of taking Australia's relationship with 'the world's largest democracy', one step further.

But the PM said it was no reason to consider nuclear energy in Australia. "We have abundant (other) energy sources", unlike many other countries around the world, she said.

Ms Gillard said she had consulted with some ministers before her proposal, but did not name them.

In a press conference which focused on uranium sales to India and same-sex marriage, the PM conceded there will be a major debate on the topic of gay marriage at the ALP conference.

Ms Gillard says she does not support a change to the marriage act, but will propose allowing a conscience vote.

There are 'deeply held and different views' gay marriage within Australia, the PM said.