Article page 18 today's (5th August) Courier Mail exact quote:
Uranium Stance is 'costing jobs'
John McCarthy Jobs Reporter
The State Government's anti-uranium stand is costing the state about 2600 jobs according to a study by the industry.
The Australian Uranium Association said Permier Anna Bligh had previously rubbished the uranium industry by claiming that mining did not stack up economically and only 150 jobs would be created, but recent studies have found that Queensland has uranium deposits with a commercial value of $20 billion.
AUA executive director Michael Angwin said a survey of members also found strong jobs potential.
"Uranium mining can add $1.5 billion to Queensland's gross state product in the next 20 years and more than $200 million to government revenue," Mr Angwin said.
He said uranium exports from Queensland could avoid 1.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse emissions by 2030, the equivalent of Queensland's emissions for six or seven years.
The AUA said its study found: the Valhalla deposit near Mount Isa, would generate 800 full time construction jobs and 250 in operation; Ben Lomond, west of Townsville, would create 200 construction jobs and 150 in operation, as well as 100 contracting jobs; Maureen, in North Queensland, would create 200 construction jobs, 100 or more direct operational jobs and 100 contracting jobs; Westmorland, in northwest Queensland, would create 330 construction jobs, 230 mine site jobs and 60 more office and exploration jobs.
Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson said a Deloitte study in April 2008 found expansion of the uranium industry in Queensland would employ only an additional 150 people. "This does not justify the huge investment in new infrastructure that would be needed for this product, or the environmental risks," he said
MKY
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