Uranium Mining

In 2008, under the Barnett Government, WA’s uranium ban was lifted; allowing for the approval of four separate mining projects in WA. This was done by the Liberal government in the months leading up to the caretaker period. Piers Verstegen, director of Conservation Council of WA, remarked "Environmental standards went out the window under the Barnett government," and disclosed his belief that there were “serious legal flaws in the way these approvals were granted” by the Barnett government. Under the following Labour government, the ban was reinstated however, the four projects have been allowed to continue, with Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston explaining that the government could not legally deny secondary approvals for those already granted. Minister Johnston further added that due to these previously-granted leases, the WA government could be liable to recompense the leaseholders, should the government reintroduce a blanket ban on uranium projects.

 

The four uranium projects in WA are Toro Energy's Wiluna project, Vimy Resources' Mulga Rock project, and Cameco's Kintyre and Yeelirrie projects. The latter of these sites --  the lease granted by former state environment minister Albert Jacob sixteen days before the pre-election caretaker mode began -- is of global scientific concern as it is the site of the 2012 discovery of seven new species, one subspecies, and three potential cryptic species of subterranean microfauna. The WA Department of Mining, Industry Regulation & Safety notes that “the EPA…recommended the project was not to be implemented due to the risk of extinction of several species…” and yet  approval was granted by WA Minister for state development on Jan 16^th 2017 “upon considering the broader social and economic benefits”; overruling the EPA’s decision. Greens (WA) MP Robin Chapple has accused the government of bowing to industry pressure, with Mr Vergtegen maintaining that “[the] ruling shows that indeed our environmental laws are deeply inadequate”. This position is supported by many others including Tjiwarl native title holder Vicky Abdullah and groups such as the CCWA.  

 

Uranium mining differs from regular ore mining in several ways. Whilst mining ipse demands high volumes of water and potentially dangerous methods of chemical extraction, uranium mining also incurs additional threats to both people and environment. Triuranium octoxide, the naturally occurring form of metal, must be further processed, increasing its energy yield and also its radioactive properties. There are many aspects of uranium mining that the Government and EPA should consider when making decisions about proposed uranium mines:

 

• Weapons proliferation
• Radioactive waste and product stewardship
• The long term environmental hazards from radioactive mine waste and potential costs to the Government and tax payers
• The failure of rehabilitation at other uranium mines throughout Australia
• The many breaches of environmental and workers' safety requirements at operating uranium mines in Australia
• The inability to monitor workers for radon gas inhalation,
• The weight of medical evidence that suggest there is no safe dose of radiation; and 
• The phenomenally unfair burden of the nuclear industry on Indigenous communities
   

To date, there have been more than 200 reported spills, leaks and breaches at the Ranger Uranium mine near Kakadu National park, the latest being more than a million litres of toxic sludge spilling from a waste tank on 7 December 2013[4].

This demonstrates that the uranium industry has failed to meet public expectations, failed to meet government regulations and failed to operate safely.

For information regarding the WA Greens policies on Nuclear issues click here