Premier Barnett's decision to give the green light to uranium mining in WA is dangerous and undemocratic, according to the Greens (WA).
"The Liberal party were elected with 24 seats in the last election promising open-slather uranium mining. The Labor party won 28 seats on a nuclear-free platform. This government does not have a mandate to allow uranium mining," said Greens MP Giz Watson.
"I do not have the confidence in our environmental and public health safeguards - the lead poisoning disaster in Esperance and ongoing issues with Alcoa's operations are case in point," said Ms Watson.
Senator Scott Ludlam warned that Commonwealth legal protections were of no use either.
"Peter Garrett has gone missing in action. Martin Ferguson is running the show, demanding uranium development at all costs. These are scary times."
"The mining industry will make a profit for a decade or two. Western Australians will be left with the costs for hundreds of years - just witness the ongoing contamination headache at the first generation of mines in the Alligator Rivers region of the NT."
"The public are demanding clean, long-term renewable energy alternatives to tackle the uncertain future that climate change and oil depletion are bringing us," said Senator Scott Ludlam. "Uranium is unlike any other mineral in the long term toxic pollutants it generates, the adverse public and occupational health risks, and the intrinsic links to weapons of mass destruction," said Senator Scott Ludlam.
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