Tuesday, 25 July, 2006

ABC NT Local News

Federal Northern Territory Labor Senator Trish Crossin says she will be part of a large group of Labor members who will fight Kim Beazley's plans to change the party's position on uranium mining.

The Opposition Leader yesterday announced he intends to push for a scrapping of Labor's no new uranium mines policy at the next national party conference.

Senator Crossin says she remains opposed to any expansion in uranium mining.

"There will be a number of us within a certain group of our party who will hold a different stance," she said.

"We're entitled to have that view until ... of course it is resolved at the national conference, but I am not in favour of further uranium mining."

Senator Crossin says she does not agree it is in the national interest to change the policy.

"My position is that I don't believe we need to embark into the uranium mining industry any further at this stage," she said.

"There are a number of difficulties and problems with this mineral and until we have had a much longer ... debate and discussion about the problems in this industry, we should leave it in the ground."

The Labor Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, also opposes the change of policy.

Mr Snowdon says while he supports a debate on the issue within Labor, he does not believe a change is necessary.

"I'm not been a supporter of the expansion of the industry, nothing has happened to change my view about that," he said.

"I remain absolutely concerned about the issue of nuclear safeguards and environmental issues, and given the uncertain world within which we live I think those issues is becoming more uncertain."

NT Opposition Leader Jodeen Carney says Mr Beazley's announcement should force Chief Minister Clare Martin to reveal her stance on uranium.

"The bottom line is the Northern Territory has a number of opportunities that any government should open its mind to," she said.

"We have a situation where Clare Martin has been ducking and weaving this issue for years - she now needs to come out and tell Territorians what Territory Labor's position is."

Ms Carney says mining is the Territory's largest industry and the Government should give it some certainty.

"Clare Martin and her colleague Kon Vatskalis have been elusive to say the least in the Territory when asked about uranium mining - it's now incumbent on the Chief Minister to state her position," he said.

A spokeswoman says Mr Vatskalis, who is the Minister for Mines, welcomes the debate and says he will participate enthusiastically at next year's Labor Party conference.