+ calls on queensland premier to scrap, page-7

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Uranium ban silly: Ferguson
Katharine Murphy
07sep05

LABOR resources spokesman Martin Ferguson has urged Peter Beattie to scrap
restrictions on uranium mining after the Queensland Resources Council called
yesterday for new mines for the state.

Mr Ferguson told The Australian yesterday there were known deposits of
uranium in Queensland that could be developed following the recent trebling
in the world price.

"In the minds of the resources industry, they cannot see why uranium mining
is acceptable in South Australia but not in Queensland," Mr Ferguson said.

It was "hard to accept that in a resources state" coal stocks could be
exploited to take advantage of the resources boom, but uranium deposits had
to be left undeveloped.

Mr Ferguson's move increased political pressure on the Premier following a
decision by the Queensland Resources Council yesterday to enter the national
debate on uranium mining and nuclear power for the first time, advocating
that new mines should be allowed in the state.

"The QRC believes there is no justification for excluding Queensland uranium
from the global energy mix," the resource council said.

QRC chief executive Michael Roche told The Australian that given the global
energy outlook, Queensland resources companies had given unanimous
endorsement to an increase in uranium mining.