No uranium mining for QLD

Comment: Anti-Uranium Mining is happening all over the World!

23 March 2009

Uranium mining will not be given the go ahead in Queensland after the Labor government was re-elected for the fifth consecutive term at the state election on Saturday.

The win means there will be no uranium mining in the sunshine state until at least 2012.

Queensland contains an estimated $20 billion in uranium reserves.

However, Labor’s policies allow only exploration and not mining of the resource.

Opposition leader, Lawrence Springborg, said uranium mining would benefit the state’s economy, and was set to lift the ban if the LNP party was elected.

However, Premier Bligh says yellowcake mining requires “huge capital for infrastructure” and is standing by her decision to oppose it.

Labor’s uranium mining policies will remain unchanged in the next term.

The Queensland Department of Mines and Energy (DME) declined MINING DAILY’s request for comment until the State’s political advisors are sworn in later this week.

The Bligh government has turned its focus to low-carbon initiatives and is working to introduce higher energy efficiency standards to create a ‘greener Queensland’.

The Labor government will also embark on an infrastructure plan to target key mining towns and improve access, resources and facilities in rural areas.