Media Release April 28 2007

Beattie must maintain uranium ban: Queenslanders vow to take action

Queensland Nuclear Free Alliance (QNFA) is outraged that Premier Beattie has voted to allow an expansion of the uranium industry at today’s ALP national conference.

QNFA member Treena Lenthall attended the conference today.

“Peter Beattie has shown his true colours by helping overturn Labor’s long-held national “no new mines” policy,” Ms Lenthall states.

“The change to Labor policy is a clear indicator that Labor leadership is more concerned with big business and profit than the health and welfare of
the community.”

Premier Beattie has indicated that Queensland’s current “ no mines policy” would not change if the new national policy allowed state policies to be maintained.

“While the new policy allows states to decide whether or not they will permit uranium mining, Beattie’s support for uranium mining in other states can be taken as a signal to uranium miners that Queensland, too, may soon be open for business.”

“He must now guarantee that he will not allow uranium mining to take place in Queensland or face the
consequences at the next election.”

“Kevin Rudd and Peter Beattie have both missed the point.” Ms. Lenthall continues. “ They have managed to change Labor policy, but the problems with uranium remain unchanged.”

“No matter where they are located, uranium mines leave a toxic radioactive legacy for hundreds of thousands of years left above ground in the form of tailings dams or radioactive sludge pumped back in to the earth.”

“An open uranium mining policy encourages a global increase of birth defects, cancers, and dangers associated with any form of ionising radiation, the nuclear power industry and, of course, nuclear weapons proliferation.”

Ms. Lenthall was ejected from the conference for holding up a nuclear free banner after the policy vote
was taken.

“The people of Queensland have a long proud history of opposing uranium mines. We will we will do whatever it takes and we will do whatever it takes to continue that movement.”

For more information: Queensland Nuclear Free Alliance Treena Lenthall
0432 563 967