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Will mining be the same?



New nuclear energy laws for Queensland





Nuclear facilities, including power stations and radioactive waste dumps, are now banned in Queensland.

Queensland Mines and Energy Minister, Geoff Wilson said the Nuclear Facilities Prohibition Act 2006 came into effect this week.

"The Act bans nuclear facilities in Queensland in order to protect the health, safety and well-being of each and every one of us," Mr Wilson said.

"There is no need for Queensland to go down the path of nuclear power plants or toxic waste dumps when we don't need to," he said.

"Under the new law, a plebiscite would have to be held if the Federal Government tried to ride roughshod over State laws to build a nuclear facility in Queensland.

"We won't let the Feds foist nuclear power plants or toxic waste dumps on our State without the wishes of the people who live and work here made known," Mr Wilson said.

Nuclear facilities banned under the Act include nuclear reactors (whether used to generate electricity or not), uranium conversion and enrichment plants, nuclear fuel fabrication plants, spent fuel processing plants, and facilities used to store or dispose of material associated with the nuclear fuel cycle such as radioactive waste material.

Exemptions under the legislation include facilities for the storage or disposal of waste material resulting from research or medical purposes, and the operation of a nuclear-powered vessel.

Mr Wilson said the circumstances that motivated other countries to pursue nuclear power did not apply in Queensland.

"Generally, a lack of domestic energy resources and the high cost of importing fuel have pushed countries down the nuclear path, but here in Queensland we have access to abundant, long-term supplies of coal and gas,� he said. “There is a range of renewable energy supplies being worked on now.�

The new Act brings Queensland into line with other Australian states that have nuclear prohibition legislation in place.

- 03 May 2007

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