Campbell Newman gives the go-ahead for Unranium mining in Queensland

Media Release

 

PREMIER BREAKS ANOTHER ELECTION PROMISE

 

 

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Premier has broken another election promise by giving the go-ahead for uranium mining in Queensland.

“This is an issue the people of Queensland believed they voted on in March,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“At the election the Labor and LNP policies on this issue were broadly the same — both parties told voters they did not support uranium mining. The Labor Party is keeping its commitment.

“Before the election Mr Newman was unequivocal in his promise that any government he led would not endorse uranium mining.

”Now he has established a committee — not to consult Queenslanders on the issue — but to help him break yet another key election promise.

“If the Premier can’t be trusted to keep his word on uranium mining, what value are his claims he will not proceed with a nuclear power industry in Queeenasland?”

Before the election Mr Newman said the LNP had “higher priorities” than uranium mining and he would not be dictated to by big business to change his mind.

He was reported on 16 November 2011 as saying:

"We have no plans [for uranium mining] and that's as clear as I can be. The parliamentary team are very, very clear that we have no plans to develop any sort of uranium mines in Queensland. We're not beholden to people - no matter how prominent they may be in the business community."

On 20 June this year the Premier was just as unequivocal when asked in State Parliament about uranium mining, and said:

“…we have no plans to mine uranium in Queensland…”

Ms Palaszczuk said Labor was sticking to the policy it took the last election and which had been reaffirmed at its 2012 State Conference in September.

“I do not believe Queenslanders want our state to be part of the nuclear cycle,” she said.

“Despite what the Premier says, people recognise that those who advocate an expanded uranium industry have an obligation to accommodate the waste generated from nuclear industries.

“We also need to recognise that nations that previously sustained major nuclear industries are retreating from it as an energy source, including Japan, Italy and Germany,” she said.