The decision to allow uranium mining in Queensland is a welcome and long overdue opportunity for northern development, according to John Shipp, Director of the ANDEV/IPA North Australia Project.
“Campbell Newman and his government should be applauded for this bold decision in the interests of communities and workers across Northern Queensland, who are now set to benefit by $18 billion and thousands more jobs,” Mr Shipp said.
There are several known uranium deposits in Queensland. Mining these deposits could create long-term economic benefits by creating employment in the region as well as generating export wealth.
By lifting the ban, the Newman government has ended a 23-year restriction on exploration and mining of the valuable resource. Mr Shipp said reactions from environmentalists had been predictable, but are unlikely to have an impact on progress.
“Let’s face it, this decision is long overdue,” Mr Shipp said. “The short-sighted anti-development lobby, which draws its strength from inner-city areas of our Southern centres of power, has always tried to impose its ideology on the North. Uranium mining is a case in point,” Mr Shipp said.
“Finally the inclinations of Southern greens won’t hold the interests of Northern Australians to ransom. This is a big win for ordinary Australians against the professional whingers.”
On October 17, 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard struck a historic agreement with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give India access to Australian uranium exports after an agreement on safeguards is settled.
“Everybody but the environmentalist, anti-development lobby recognises uranium will play an important part in Australia’s economic and energy future, from Prime Minister Julia Gillard all the way down to the man and woman in the street. New South Wales lifted the ban on uranium exploration earlier this year and Western Australia is now allowing new uranium mines to be developed too,” Mr Shipp said.