Uranium mining

Anti-uranium campaigners will voice their opposition to the new WA Government's pro-uranium stance at Parliament House today as the new Parliament sits for the first time.

The Australian Greens today urged caution on fast tracking uranium mining in Western Australia, following reports that BHP is considering rapid development of WA's largest deposit at Yeelirrie.

"The world uranium spot price has collapsed since July last year, and yet the industry is still behaving as though their imaginary 'nuclear renaissance' is actually happening," said Australian Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

The Greens have produced research which shows that the share price of the top ten uranium explorers in Australia have been decimated by the turmoil in financial markets, underperforming the market overall and well below the large diversified miners.

The granting of exploration approval for the Angela Pamela uranium project near Alice Springs raises the stakes in what is set to be a major confrontation between the uranium mining industry and the wider community, say the Australian Greens.

The Australian Greens say Prime Minister Rudd now has all the evidence he needs not to ratify Howard's dangerous uranium deal with Russia - after the findings of a Parliamentary Report were released today.

The Australian Government risks international isolation if it does not overturn plans to sell uranium to Russia, Australian Greens nuclear spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam, said today.

Australian uranium will likely end up in India under the new nuclear deal between India and the United States, Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues said today.

"Australia's decision to back the nuclear deal between India and the United States drives a gaping hole in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," Senator Ludlam said.

The Australian Greens today called for the end of the existing Australia-Russia uranium deal, given the recent violence in Georgia and inflammatory comments overnight by the Russian Ambassador.
 
"Foreign Minister Steven Smith can draw a line under this reckless foreign policy gamble of the Howard era," said Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues, Senator Scott Ludlam.
 
"It is these deals that are sending a clear signal to Russia and governments around the world: revenue from uranium sales is more important to Australia than nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and international peace and security. This is not a message that the Australian public want to be a part of."

Today's approval by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett of the in-situ leach uranium mine at 4 Mile (Beverley) is deeply disappointing, and reinforces South Australia's reputation for being an easy target for sub-standard mining environmental practices.

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has condemned Environment Minister Peter Garrett's decision to expand the groundwater sacrifice area of the Beverley uranium mine.

Brendan Nelson's confused call for a renewed debate on nuclear energy would be funny if it were not so serious, Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues Senator Scott Ludlam said today.