[Greens-Media] Yellowcake fever: toxic and unwanted

[Bout, Marie (Sen S. Ludlam)]

Media Release
Greens MP Giz Watson
Senator Scott Ludlam

21 November 2008 

Yellowcake fever: toxic and unwanted

Premier Barnett's decision to give the green light to uranium mining in
WA is dangerous and undemocratic, according to the Greens (WA). 

"The Liberal party were elected with 24 seats in the last election
promising open-slather uranium mining. The Labor party won 28 seats on a
nuclear-free platform. This government does not have a mandate to allow
uranium mining," said Greens MP Giz Watson.

"I do not have the confidence in our environmental and public health
safeguards - the lead poisoning disaster in Esperance and ongoing issues
with Alcoa's operations are case in point," said Ms Watson. 

Senator Scott Ludlam warned that Commonwealth legal protections were of
no use either.

"Peter Garrett has gone missing in action. Martin Ferguson is running
the show, demanding uranium development at all costs. These are scary
times."

"The mining industry will make a profit for a decade or two. Western
Australians will be left with the costs for hundreds of years - just
witness the ongoing contamination headache at the first generation of
mines in the Alligator Rivers region of the NT."
"The public are demanding clean, long-term renewable energy alternatives
to tackle the uncertain future that climate change and oil depletion are
bringing us," said Senator Scott Ludlam.
"Uranium is unlike any other mineral in the long term toxic pollutants
it generates, the adverse public and occupational health risks, and the
intrinsic links to weapons of mass destruction," said Senator Scott
Ludlam.


For more information or media enquiries please call Marie Bout on
0405399164