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States 'won't be forced to open mines'By Belinda Tasker April 28, 2007 06:54pm Article from: AAPFont size: + - Send this article: Print Email LABOR premiers said they would not be forced into opening uranium mines in their states despite the federal party's decision to dump its "no new mines" policy.
In a vote at Labor's national conference in Sydney today, party members backed Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd's call to change the ALP's 25-year-old ban.
The move pleased South Australian Premier Mike Rann, who is considering expanding uranium mining in his state.
But the premiers for Queensland, Western Australia and NSW said their states would remain free of uranium mines, despite the policy change.
WA Premier Alan Carpenter said federal Labor's new policy meant each state and territory could decide on whether to allow uranium mining or not.
Mr Carpenter said while he had concerns about the environmental impact of uranium mining, he also did not want to see WA become the world's dump site for atomic waste.
"We are not going to take the world's nuclear waste even though there is strong lobbying and big financial incentives (that) are talked about for our state to do that," he said.
"People are suggesting after the next election things will change... but whilst I am the premier in Western Australia there won't be uranium mining."
NSW Premier Morris Iemma said his state had had legislation banning uranium mines in place since the 1980s and would not be changing it.
Mr Iemma and Mr Carpenter also condemned Prime Minister John Howard's announcement of a plan to develop a nuclear power industry in Australia.
"The Prime Minister is determined to rush headlong into giving us a nuclear industry and the NSW Government will oppose him all the way," Mr Iemma said.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie also reiterated his opposition to uranium mining.
But he said he had no hesitation in backing Mr Rudd's policy change because of the opposition leader's support for the federation.
"His amendment (to federal Labor policy) allows Western Australia and Queensland to continue its current control of local land use as it always has been able to," he said.
South Australian Premier Mike Rann said the policy change was a great victory for his state.
"These conferences are about preparing for the future and being in government means making tough decisions," he said.
"Being in government also means making decisions on the basis of facts and science not on the basis of emotions
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