Antinuclear

Report on Queensland Premier’s uranium push, includes opinion poll

Newman’s uranium backflip means money and jobs to him – what does it mean to you? BY:THE AUSTRALIAN, JOHN MCCARTHY, ROBYN IRONSIDE   From:The Courier-Mail  October 23, 2012  “…… Premier Campbell Newman’s announcement yesterday came just 11 days after writing to the Australian Conservation Foundation saying he had “no plans to approve the development of uranium in Queensland” .

Green groups have slammed the move, labelling it dangerous, rushed and made with little or no consultation .

Mr Newman said the backflip was sparked by Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s trip to India to open negotiations on uranium exports, which put the issue back on the agenda…..

the Government is facing criticism it rushed the decision without consultation after going to the polls claiming it had no plans to lift the ban.

Green groups said it took less than 11 days for Mr Newman to change his mind after he wrote to the Australian Conservation Foundation on October 11 stating that the Government’s position was “crystal clear” and it had “no plans to approve the development of uranium in Queensland”……

it is likely that it will take at least four years for any project to get developed because of the strict environmental approvals needed from both the State and Federal governments.

A hazardous materials port would also have to be built to cope with the exports.

Queensland’s last operating uranium mine, Mary Kathleen, about 80km west of Mount Isa, closed in 1982 after 30 years in use.

The Goss Labor government won office in 1989 with a policy of no new uranium mining, an effective ban that has applied ever since.

Ironically on the exact same day in Brisbane in 1977, 371 people were arrested at an anti-uranium protest in Brisbane, including a Labor senator. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/newman-government-backs-resumption-of-uranium-mining-in-queensland/story-e6frg6n6-1226500533462

October 23, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News