ALEC Condemns Labor Leaders' Uranium Push
Tuesday, 25 July, 2006
Arid Lands Environment Centre
"The Labor Party's bet-each-way Three Mines Policy is bad enough but support for the expansion of the industry, with its questionable economic benefits, is cause for great concern – particularly for us in central Australia." ALEC Coordinator Tim Collins said.
"There are numerous companies exploring for uranium throughout central Australia. New mines will not only mean localised radioactive contamination but also they also raise the long term question of waste."
"With the Commonwealth Government's proposed radioactive waste dump leading many to think that the Territory is earmarked to be the nation's radioactive dumping ground, we must ask whether we will see Australia's uranium return to here at some stage in the future, in the form of high level radioactive waste."
"This decision also demonstrates that the Federal and Territory Labor leaders share the nuclear industry's casual indifference in regard to health of workers. Mines across the country have been plagued with leaks and accidents. Another case of radioactive contamination of drinking water this week, this time at South Australia's Beverly mine, is further evidence that worker safety cannot be guaranteed on uranium mine sites." Mr Collins claimed.
"Rather than playing policy catch-up with Prime Minister Howard, both Beazley and Martin should listen to their party members, the overwhelming majority of whom oppose an expansion of uranium mining."
Mr Collins concluded, "ALEC calls upon ALP members to oppose plans by their out-of-touch leadership to expand uranium mining. We encourage them to join with environmentalists and Traditional Owner groups to end this dirty industry and create a sustainable future, powered by clean and renewable energy sources."