Feds seize uranium minesAugust 04, 2005 From: AAP THE Federal...

Feds seize uranium mines
August 04, 2005
From: AAP
THE Federal Government has declared the Northern Territory open to uranium mining, taking control of the future of its rich uranium deposits.

The move came after the NT Labor Government, vehemently opposed to uranium mining, walked away from any responsibility for new mines during a 15-minute meeting between the federal and territory resource ministers in Darwin.
Federal Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane said the Government had sought legal advice after NT Chief Minister Clare Martin vowed in June, in the lead-up to the NT election, to ban new uranium mines.

The NT Government had obtained its own similar advice, which found the commonwealth had the power to override any ban.

"For the good of the Territory and for the good of the resources industry in territory, we can't allow this confusion to continue," Mr Macfarlane said.

"This no uranium policy is a nonsensical policy.

"The Northern Territory is open for business on uranium mining.
"We were (reluctant) to go down this road, even as late as this morning I was asking the Territory Government to co-operate.

"But if they're not prepared to do that ... the commonwealth will act to accept that responsibility."

About a dozen companies are exploring for uranium in the resource-rich Territory, home to some $12 billion worth of known uranium deposits, Mr Macfarlane said.

"There is a worldwide demand for uranium at the moment, ... and people are literally coming and beating on your door," he said.

"It's simply not feasible to refuse the opportunity to develop a resource based on a political whim."

But confusion remains, with NT Mining Minister Kon Vatskalis contradicting the federal minister, saying the NT Government had not walked away from the meeting but was "bulldozed".

"Our Government will not approve any new uranium mines in the Territory, we don't want new uranium mines," he said.

"We didn't abdicate, we didn't roll over.

'Simply the Federal Government bulldozed us, and they said 'tough, we are going to say that you are going to have uranium mines in the Territory'."

Ms Martin later weighed in saying the Territory had not given up any power on the mines because it never had any power to begin with.

"The Federal Government ... has full control over uranium mining because we are not a state," she said.

However, the NT Government is a regulator of the Territory's only operating uranium mine, Ranger, surrounded by the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.

The NT Government prosecuted Ranger owner Energy Resources of Australia in June after 28 workers fell ill after drinking or showering in water contaminated with uranium last year.

Environmentalists described Canberra's attempt to override the NT ban as "bully boy" tactics, while federal Labor MP Warren Snowdon said the Federal Government had "fired the first shot in the dismembering of self-government in the NT".

Federal Country Liberal Party Senator Nigel Scullion said the NT Government had abdicated any right for the NT to be involved in any prospective uranium mining ventures.

"In washing its hands of the opportunity for joint decision making with the commonwealth, the Martin Government has torn up the right for Territorians to be party to an agreement on uranium mining in the territory," Mr Scullion said.

Already grappling with federal moves to establish an unwanted nuclear waste dump in the Territory, the NT Government said the uranium issue would add to the push for the Territory to become a state.

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Comment:- Giralia has huge tennements of 'inferred and indicated', as well as proven resource reserves of uranium in N.T.,W.A.,S.A.,and QLD., as well as an existing farm-in agreement with Major International Uranium producer,explorer and miner Heathgate in S.A.
Big and serious players involved, and does have a top shelf board and management structure, as well as existing Gold, Nickel, and Copper Projects already in full swing! This stock will fly on this news!
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