Dear Labor Member,

I am writing to you with deep concern over the possibility that Labor QLD will support a change in uranium mining policy at state or federal level, to allow more uranium mines.

I am opposed to such a change. I believe it does not make sense on many levels:

• The people do not want uranium mining: A 2005 Morgan Newspoll of 662 Australians showed that 77% of ALP voters are opposed to the development of any new uranium mines;
• There is no market for Queensland uranium: The demand for uranium ensured by Howard's recent deal with China is easily met by the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia at current production levels, which is soon to be expanding; ABARE forecast that uranium will decrease in value as demand is expected to decrease (March 1, 2006:p33 The Australian, "Local miners miss the uranium boat")
• Uranium for power is not a long-term energy strategy: Uranium deposits for power provision are estimated to last between just 4 and 50 years; Neither the US nor the EU have any plans to renew their aging nuclear power plants, some of which are being decommissioned, decreasing demand; (2005: Jim Green, FoEA).
• Uranium mining puts workers at increased risk: Besides the usual accidents inherent in mining, uranium add the extra danger of lung and cancer-related disease for workers inhaling uranium dust and exposure to radon; (http://www.wise-uranium.org/uhm.html)
• Uranium damages the natural environment: Huge quantities of water are need to process yellowcake, Olympic Dam for instance uses 30 million litres of water per day. The water is made radioactive and highly acidic. It is left in tailings dams where it continues to contaminate the environment. There have been numerous tailings dam failures worldwide, including the 1994 discovery of a four year long leak at Olympic Dam. (http://www.anawa.org.au/sa/olympic-tailings.html). Queensland already has water use conflict issues, why put our existing water at risk?
• Uranium mines can endanger Indigenous people: the health, cultural values and sovereignty of local indigenous peoples is put at risk by uranium mining.
• Uranium contributes to nuclear proliferation: Safeguards arguments aside, Australian uranium used for power in nuclear weapons states frees up other sources for nuclear weapons including Depleted Uranium munitions, outlawed in the UN;
• Queensland can do better: The Queensland Government already has some great energy projects underway, including geothermal, solar and wind projects that we would like to see increased funding directed to. The global demand for wind power and solar energy is rising at rates of 20 to 30 per cent a year.

Kim Beazley himself has said, "We've got plenty of opportunity to acquire uranium from our current facilities...in terms of the uranium industry at this stage, I think we're as far into it as we want to be. We've got a huge line at Olympic Dam, which is now increasing in size. You've got major issues internationally with the character of nuclear power. We have not resolved the nuclear proliferation issues, and the intersection of the nuclear proliferation issues and the war on terror must take top priority in all the decisions we make on exporting uranium, and anything else related to the nuclear industry, I might say." (2005: 17 Oct, Radio National - The World Today).

Queensland is uniquely placed to make smart use of our resources and talents to shine as a innovative and independent state if we choose more sustainable ways of managing our energy and resource sector.

I urge you to think not of the small profit that might be possible from uranium mining, but of the huge potential opportunities that exist by not choosing that path. Energy diversification is the future. Let some of the great ideas already underway in this state take the lead. By choosing that future you are choosing what the Queensland voters want as well ensuring the long term energy security of this state.

I urge you to reaffirm your commitment to a 'no uranium mines' policy for Queensland. We don't want it, we don't need it and we can do so much better.

Sincerely,

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