wa alp to legislate uranium mining ban

WA ALP to legislate uranium mining ban
26-August-08 by AAP




Premier Alan Carpenter has reneged on his position of laws governing uranium mining in the state following his pledge today to introduce legislation to ban uranium mining if re-elected.

Mr Carpenter says voters will have a clear choice at the September 6 election between Labor's commitment to a "clean, green" state and a Liberal party that would mine uranium.

Mr Carpenter has long maintained legislation was not necessary, but has now changed his mind, saying the time is right to enshrine Labor's position in law.

"Rather than it now be left to the whim or the will of the premier of the day, it should be subject to the parliament of Western Australia," Mr Carpenter told reporters.

"We will ban, by legislation, the mining of uranium in Western Australia and instead we will drive 100 per cent renewable energy production."

Earlier this month, Opposition Leader Colin Barnett said the Liberals would go to the election with a policy to export uranium to countries that were members of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He said there was no reason WA should not join South Australia and the Northern Territory in exporting the mineral.

The Australian Uranium Association has identified eight major uranium-rich locations in WA.

Mr Carpenter says WA's energy future should lie with more renewable power rather than uranium mining and nuclear power.

"Nuclear is not green, is not safe, and has no role in Western Australia's future energy mix under a Labor Government."

He was today in the southern town of Albany where he announced Labor would commit $7 million to provide incentives for renewable energy.