Antinuclear

Western Australia rules out uranium mining policy change amid nuclear energy push from Peter Dutton

ABC Goldfields / By Jarrod Lucas, 8 Aug 24

In short:

WA Mines Minister David Michael has ruled out any change to the Cook government’s long-standing policy on uranium mining.

There is an effective ban on mining the mineral in WA, where only one uranium mine is permitted to operate.

Peter Dutton says the ban is “ideologically based” and should be overturned.

Western Australia’s mines minister has rejected calls from federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton to overturn the state’s long-standing ban on uranium mining and insisted that future energy needs will be met by renewable sources.

The state has had an effective ban on mining the nuclear fuel since Labor was swept to power in 2017, while Mr Dutton has made nuclear power development the centrepiece of the Coalition’s energy policy.

Speaking on the sidelines of this week’s Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Mr Dutton said the WA policy should be scrapped.

But WA Mines Minister David Michael, who attended the final day of the forum, poured cold water on the idea and said the state government’s stance on uranium would not be changing anytime soon.

“WA Labor, for two elections, has committed to not approving any uranium mines and there is no intention to change that policy,” Mr Michael said……………………………………………………………………………………..

Mr Michael said he spoke with officials from Deep Yellow at Diggers and Dealers and believed renewables such as wind, solar and battery storage were a safer bet than uranium.

“I think it’s more important to focus on critical minerals in terms of the renewable future,” he said.

“We know that renewable energy is what the world moves to sooner or later. 

“We know that’s what we need to tool up for in WA, and we’re doing it.”…………………………………………………………. more https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-08/wa-uranium-mining-policy-to-stay-despite-nuclear-energy-push/104196130

August 9, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, uranium, Western Australia