Antinuclear

Uranium exploration in New South Wales? – call for inquiry into govt OK to this

Since Premier O’Farrell announced his intention to open up uranium exploration in this state, thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the government to maintain the uranium ban.

Inquiry should probe O’Farrell’s okay to uranium search – ecology groups, Cowra Community News,
http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php?newsid=142&id=4    28 March 12, STATE and national environment groups have called for an independent public review into uranium mining in New South Wales as legislation to allow exploration is due to be debated in parliament today (Wednesday).

Premier Barry O’Farrell has no mandate to change a long-standing and popular policy banning uranium projects in the state, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Beyond Nuclear Initiative say in a joint statement. The groups have criticised the lifting of the ban on uranium exploration, urging the State Government to set up a public inquiry into the uranium industry.

“Premier O’Farrell has said this is not about mining, but about
exploration and gathering evidence, so we trust he will support a
full, robust and independent inquiry to examine the adequacy of NSW’s
regulatory regimes, the experience of uranium mining in other
jurisdictions and the views of relevant stakeholders,” says the
Australian Conservation Foundation’s Dave Sweeney.
“For 26 years NSW has maintained a socially and environmentally
responsible policy prohibiting uranium exploration and mining,” says
Natalie Wasley from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative.
“The nuclear industry poses health risks to workers and the community
and long-term hazards to the environment.”
The Nature Conservation Council’s Pepe Clarke says: “Premier O’Farrell
did not take this issue to the community at the state election, so he
has no mandate for an initiative that would have such a long-term
impact on NSW’s society and environment.
“Since Premier O’Farrell announced his intention to open up uranium exploration in this state, thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the government to maintain the uranium ban.
“We urge the government, opposition and crossbench MPs to support a
full, robust and independent inquiry into the ramifications of opening
up NSW to uranium exploration and mining,” Mr Clarke says.

March 28, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | New South Wales, politics, uranium