alp to ban uranium mining in wa, page-4

this is pure politiking. Carpenter is looking for preference votes from Green party in marginal seats.

Work needs to begin now in regards to uranium mining across australia (inc Qld & NSW). In another 10 to 20 years uranium price could be sub $30 - $50 and given the low grades in WA may very well be uneconomical. Encouraging mining today in WA ensures build up and retention of human expertise, plus encourages more exploration and investment in the area. Remember, WA has only scratched the surface in exploration of uranium, so what we have is just known deposits.

In terms of uranium demand, there is significant activity and research underway supporting efficiency developments in the amount of uranium needed to run a plant, it is not unreasonable that technology in 10 -20 years could see a only a fraction of the amount needed today. Theree is also significant research in optimising secondary uranium. Additionally, there is increasing cost benefit advances being made in extraction of uranium from other sources such as sea water. I believe cost benefit from sea water has moved from $900 a pound to below $500 in the last few years. Finally a host of other countries are seeing the light and heavily investing in programs to dominate from mining to enrichment to energy. Russia is being very proactive but a host of third world countries are also entering seeing massive value.

Make no mistake this is very poor leadership from Carpenter. This is political misuse of public perception and emotion to gain advantage. A real visionary would see WA potentially becoming the next Saudi Arabia of uranium, attracting the best people the world has to offer as well as controlling what could easily become the most significant and strategic resource in the world. No execuses, expecially given Carpenter has had the best economic conditions to leverage globally in the last 5 years and has dome nothing.