Tuesday, 25 July, 2006

ABC News Online

The South Australian Greens say Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley's plans to dump Labor's no new mines policy is a foolish and ill-conceived move.

Mr Beazley says it is time to abandon ALP's three mines platform, which was first implemented by the party two decades ago.

SA Greens spokesman Mark Parnell says Mr Beazley's proposal is disappointing.

"We will be part and parcel of one of the most dangerous technologies on the planet, we'll be part and parcel of a nuclear waste problem that has no resolution yet," he said.

But Patrick Mutz, from mining company Heathgate Resources that operates South Australia's Beverley uranium mine, says the plans could lead to increased investment in the state.

"Once more mines do come online, certainly there'll be a larger amount of money coming into the Government by the way of export levies," he said.

South Australia is home to the Beverley mine as well as Olympic Dam - the world's biggest known uranium deposit.

Australia's third uranium mine, Ranger, is based in the Northern Territory.