Joint Media Release:

Australian Conservation Foundation - Greenpeace - Medical Association for the Prevention of War - Friends of the Earth - The Wilderness Society

For Immediate Release 1st September 2006

NUCLEAR FALLOUT:
POLITICAL LEADERS URGED TO RULE OUT URANIUM MINING IN QUEENSLAND

Uranium mining is unnecessary, unsafe and unpopular and has no place in Queensland according to a broad group of community representatives who have today called on all Parties to rule out uranium mining ahead of the state election.

“Uranium mining is a contaminating and controversial industry,” said X. “It causes damage and risk wherever it occurs and has clear links with the production of nuclear waste and the proliferation of nuclear weapons. There is no place for this toxic trade in Queensland.”

The no mining call – made by representatives of the public health, Indigenous, scientific, political, arts and environment sectors – comes as the federal government and industry supporters press to overturn the current uranium mines policy in Queensland.

There is strong community concern over the uranium and wider nuclear issues with a recent poll (Newspoll May 2006) showing 66% of all voters and 78%of ALP voters opposed to any or further uranium mining. The groups have urged all political parties to emphatically rule out support for new uranium mines in Queensland.

Key concerns with uranium mining include:

• Site specific environmental damage and water contamination
• Production of large volumes of long lived radioactive mine wastes (tailings)
• Worker and community health impacts
• All Australian uranium becomes nuclear waste – and mines mean more pressure for waste dumping
• More uranium means more radioactive material in circulation with a greater chance of nuclear accidents or terrorist ‘dirty bombs’
• We cannot guarantee that Australian uranium will not directly or indirectly lead to more nuclear weapons

“Many politicians tend to think in the short term, in this case the next election cycle but radioactive waste will be a direct threat to the Queensland community and environment for thousands of years,” said Y.

“Many Queenslanders oppose uranium mining and the nuclear cycle. It is time for Mr. Beattie and Mr. Springborg to stop ducking the issue and clearly outline their positions on uranium mining in Queensland.”

“Uranium mining threatens Australia’s natural heritage including treasures such as Kakadu, the Lake Eyre Basin and Queensland’s Gulf Country.”

“No politician has a mandate to waste our future. Ruling out uranium mining is an important step towards building a clean and sustainable future.”

For further information or comment, contact:

Australian Conservation Foundation

Greenpeace

Medical Association for the Prevention of War

Friends of the Earth

The Wilderness Society