Ban lifted on uranium mining

The Liberal-National Government has formally lifted the ban on uranium mining in Western Australia.

Premier Colin Barnett said following cabinet approval, mining leases would be granted for all minerals including uranium, unlocking tens of millions of dollars in royalties revenue, employment opportunities and allowing the State to play a greater role in the fight against climate change.

Since the Gallop Labor Government imposed its administrative ban on uranium mining in June 2002, 1,475 mining leases had been granted but uranium had been excluded.

 “WA prides itself as a world leader in mining, yet an outmoded and philosophical objection to uranium mining was put in place, denying the State a significant economic opportunity,” said Barnett.

“The sale of WA uranium to countries under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty for power generation will also allow WA to play a greater role in combating climate change.

“Nuclear energy is the only large-scale and commercially viable option for producing electricity without at the same time producing massive amounts of greenhouse gases.”

Major uranium projects will almost certainly be subject to State Agreements Acts, meaning they will be dealt with by the Premier as the Minister for State Development.

The mining of uranium will be subject to strict safety and security provisions including:

. meeting all the necessary international safeguards in relation to the safe and peaceful use of uranium resources;

. that environmental approvals are obtained in relation to the mining of uranium and the transport of uranium oxide and;

. ensuring a safe workplace for all employees involved in the mining and the transport of uranium oxide.

The Premier said these provisions were fair, balanced and in accord with international standards.

Barnett was keen to address the scare tactics used by Labor during the election campaign which stated that allowing uranium mining would commit WA to receiving nuclear waste.

“At the time of the last Liberal government in 1999, the Nuclear Waste Storage (Prohibition) Act was passed through parliament which actually banned nuclear waste being dumped in WA," he said.

The legislation states:

“The Bill prohibits the construction of a nuclear waste storage facility. Nuclear waste is defined as unwanted radioactive material derived from the operations of a nuclear reactor, nuclear weapons facility, nuclear reprocessing plant or isotope enrichment plant except for nuclear waste generated in Australia or material that has been used under licence for scientific, industrial or medical purposes in accordance with the provisions of the Radiation Safety Act 1975.”

Australia has 28 per cent of the world’s known uranium reserves (the largest of any nation) and produces 22 per cent of world uranium - second only to Canada (29 per cent).

Uranium deposits in WA can be found from as far afield as the Kimberley region in the North-West to the Goldfields east of Kalgoorlie.

“There are about 25 known uranium deposits, with Yeelirrie and Kintyre being the best known,” the Premier said.

“These deposits may yield anywhere between 4,100 tonnes and 52,000 tonnes. However, we do not yet understand the true extent of these deposits.”