Very large and rich uranium deposits were discovered in Australia in the early 1970s. By the end of 1972, most of these bodies were ready for development. The long-run world supply forecasts of these years attributed a very important role to future production in Australia. The delaying measures of the Australian government were of course very much in line with the policies of the international cartel, and the question of whether the government took an active part in the cartel activity has been raised. The Canadian government has been actively involved in various ways in the country's uranium-mining ever since this industry was established. In September of 1974, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources introduced a policy package which purportedly aimed at assuring uranium supplies to the national nuclear development programme. An event of smaller quantitative importance but highly significant in timing was the withdrawal of France early in 1974 as a supplier to the international market.