Queensland’s Premier, Campbell Newman, has allowed the recommencement of uranium mining in the state, despite saying during the elections before March that his party, the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP), was opposed it.
The sudden backflip by the head of the state parliament has been met by staunch criticism from conservationists, concerned stakeholders, and the opposition party in Queensland. According to the Queensland Conservation Council, the move by Premier Newman ignored the global environmental trends.
Premier Newman explained that his change of mind regarding uranium mining policy in the state was caused by the Australian Federal Government’s recent moves to allow uranium sales to India. He said that there were no reason for citizens of Queensland to not enjoy the economic benefits of uranium mining. There is an estimated $18 billion of uranium deposits in the state’s northwest region.
However, experts say that since the Fukushima disaster in Japan, more nations are investing on renewable sources of energy. They pointed out to mining giant BHP, cancelling expansion plans at the Olympic Dam site, as an example of the shifts in energy trends across the globe.
Newman further stated that this was only the first time his cabinet had considered recommencent plants of uranium mining in Queensland.
You might also be interested in reading:
No comments:
Post a Comment