Western Australia’s peak environment and sustainability organisation has said that there would be no legitimately approved uranium mines at the time of the next state election, unless the Barnett Government allows mines to be approved without an adequate and thorough assessment process.
The comments were made in response to changes to WA Labor’s policy on uranium mining outlined by Opposition leader Mark McGowan yesterday, including a public inquiry into the industry and a containment policy for uranium mines approved under the Barnett Government.
Conservation Council of WA Nuclear Free Campaigner Mia Pepper said “Today’s announcement is not a green light for the uranium industry - rather it is a spotlight on the sector. There is no chance that there will be an operating uranium mine at the time of the next state election.
“There may be a uranium project with approval under a fast tracked assessment process that fails to consider the wide range of issues associated with uranium mining, but any such project would be open to legal and procedural contest, and would not have the support of the WA community.
“Mr McGowan today firewalled the WA taxpayer against vexatious compensation claims; however we are confident that any industry compensation claims would not stand up in court.
“Mr McGowan and Premier Barnett have both spoken of wanting to provide certainty for mining companies.
“Given the Barnett Governments failure to hold an open public inquiry into the industry, the only thing miners can be assured of is that any uranium mines approved by the State Government will be contested on the basis of a fundamentally insufficient approval process.
“We welcome the state Opposition’s commitment to a full, open and transparent public inquiry into uranium mining and its impacts in WA.
“WA Labor, the Conservation Council of WA, civil society, Indigenous and trade union groups have been urging such action since the uranium ban was lifted under the current Government. It is time that the costs and claims of this toxic trade and its promoters were subject to independent scrutiny.
“At every opportunity West Australians have demonstrated their strong opposition to uranium mining – this new policy from the State Opposition does nothing to change that, and does nothing to support the case for investment in uranium mining in Western Australia.”
Media Contact
Mia Pepper - 0415 380 808
John McCarten – 0403 900 193
