Uranium exploration a step in the right direction

16 February 2012

The Australian Workers' Union has welcomed moves to overturn the ban on uranium exploration in New South Wales.

AWU National Secretary Paul Howes said uranium exploration was a step in the right direction, particularly as Australia looks to develop cleaner energy sources into the future.

"It's about time the NSW Government overturned this nonsense, archaic ban on uranium exploration," Mr Howes said.

Ban on uranium exploration is Cold War thinking

"The ban on uranium exploration in NSW is a remnant of Cold War thinking, and that's exactly where it belongs – in the last century.

"If you stumble over a uranium deposit in NSW, you go to jail. That is just ridiculous.

"We need to approach nuclear energy with cool heads – and we need to inject some rationality into this debate.

"Lifting the ban on exploration doesn't mean people will end up with a uranium mine in their backyard, and it doesn't mean that mining multinationals will have free reign over NSW.

"It's a sensible move which means NSW will finally catch up to South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory in exploring how we can bring the benefits of the mining boom over to the east coast of Australia.

NSW could be the next resource powerhouse

"This is an industry which could make NSW the next powerhouse of the resources sector – opening up new mining jobs and injecting millions into our state economy.

"With the recent job losses we've seen in manufacturing, I don't see how any reasonable person could argue that isn't a priority for NSW.

"I'd strongly urge the cross-benchers to use some common sense and vote for this legislation when it is brought before NSW Parliament."