THERE is a clear market expectation that the uranium mining bans in Queensland and Western Australia will soon be overturned, with the number of prospecting licences issued in these states on a par with those in the Northern Territory and South Australia, home of Australia's only uranium mines.

Figures obtained by The Australian show 251 uranium prospecting licences have been issued in resource-rich Queensland, just short of the 279 licences issued in South Australia, home of the Olympic Dam mine.

In Western Australia, where uranium mining is also banned, 47 prospecting licences have been issued.

This is despite administrative bans being in place in these two states that prohibit uranium mining.

Australian Uranium Association executive director Michael Angwin said the growing number of licences reflected the market expectation that the prohibitions were unsustainable and would eventually be lifted.

In Tasmania, only one licence has been issued. The Northern Territory does not keep records of licences issued, but Mr Angwin estimated that about 225 licences had been granted.

No figures were available for NSW and Victoria, where uranium mining and prospecting is prohibited by legislation, rather than administrative regulation.

Mr Angwin said he was optimistic that uranium mining would eventually be allowed inWestern Australia and Queensland.

"I'd quote (Labor's) Chris Emerson, who was spokesman for resources, who said the uranium prohibition was unsustainable and would eventually be removed," Mr Angwin told The Australian.

Uranium mining has traditionally been a contentious issue for the Labor Party, with moves to soften the party's previously hardline stance on the issue meeting fierce resistance from the party's Left and green supporters.

However, at the national conference in April, the ALP junked its longstanding no-new-mines policy, potentially paving the way for an industry expansion.

Mr Angwin has said he hopes Kevin Rudd's emphasis on reform of business regulations and climate change can be a platform for a renewed debate.

In 2003-04, about $10.6million was spent on uranium exploration and related activities. By 2006-07, that figure had grown to $114.1 million.

A spokesman for Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said there was be no change in the state's position. "There will be no uranium mining under a Bligh Government."