Monday 24 October 2005
ABC NT Local News

The Northern Territory Environment Centre says a national inquiry into uranium resources has been set up to justify the Federal Government's push for more uranium mines.

The inquiry committee is receiving submissions in Darwin this afternoon.

The centre's Peter Robertson says his submission is the only environmental opposition the committee has allowed to be heard.

He says the range of evidence being collected by the committee will be limited and heavily pro-uranium mining.

"Just about every mining company in Australia that has any interest in mining uranium appears to have been given the opportunity to appear before this inquiry, whereas as we've seen in the Darwin situation only one group with concerns about the environment and future generations has been given the opportunity to appear," he said.

Mr Robertson says so far the committee has not been receptive to any opposition to the uranium industry.

"This committee has been set up to basically recommend an expansion of uranium mining and uranium exports," he said.

"I mean if you read the transcripts of their hearings in Melbourne, Canberra, Perth etc, they've clearly been quite antagonistic towards those groups and professionals who have spoken out in opposition of new uranium mines."

Justin Tutty from the No Waste Alliance says his organisation wrote a submission to the inquiry but has been refused the opportunity to speak and he says there are others.

"The network opposing war and racism and the Greens and our network the No Waste Alliance but I'm also aware there's been a lot of activity in regional areas like Katherine and Alice Springs in particular where people are definitely concerned about nuclear plans in their neighbourhoods and the inquiry isn't even visiting them," he said.

The Country Liberal Party Member for Solomon, Dave Tollner, is a member of the of the inquiry committee.

He says other opposition groups did not apply to speak.

"I'm not aware that they'd asked to be invited. We looked at all the people who wanted to speak in front of the committee and people who'd put in written submissions and I'm not aware that any group has been knocked back," he said.