On Tuesday May 27 from 12-2pm, community members will gather outside a uranium exploration industry conference being held at Alice Springs Convention Centre. 

Representatives from the Alice Springs Angela Pamela (ASAP) Collective, the Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) and individual members of Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, the native title holding body for Alice Springs, will speak about community and environmental concerns regarding the proposal to explore for uranium at Angela-Pamela, 25km south of Alice Springs and express opposition to the broader nuclear chain. 

"At a public meeting in Alice Springs on May 7, a resolution was unanimously passed by 200 attendees that demanded the NT Government not grant an exploration licence for Angela-Pamela", stated Natalie Wasley, from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative, Alice Springs. 

Ms Wasley added, "Hundreds of people have written submissions and over 700 have signed petitions to the NT government in opposition to this exploration proposal. The period for public comment ended today and we will be watching closely to see how the government responds to this high level of public concern". 

Jimmy Cocking, Arid Lands Environment Centre coordinator said; "If you have a spare $3000-$4000 you could attend the International Quality and Productivity Center's Uranium Exploration & Resource Development Conference.

This price range is unrealistic for most of the people here today, but we have gathered because as community members, we want an active say in what happens in this region". 

"This conference is a forum for uranium industry representatives to share and transfer technical knowledge, and discuss how to fast track licensing processes. There is no discussion on the agenda about how to genuinely engage and consult with communities affected by proposals", Mr Cocking added. 

"These companies do not have interest in the long-term viability of the environment or communities they are impacting. They are generally interstate or international companies out to make money from drilling, digging up and selling uranium" said Jayne Alexander spokesperson for the ASAP Collective. 

"We demand the NT Government recognise the strong community concern regarding the unique risks and associations of uranium and that the NT government desist from granting any licences for exploration or mining-including at Angela-Pamela" concluded Ms. Alexander.