Media Releases
Transcript: Change to WA Labor's Uranium Stance - ABC Rural and Resources Report
25/01/12
CME’s Chief Executive Reg Howard-Smith chats to ABC Goldfields WA Rural & Resources Report presenter Tara de Landgrafft on WA Labor’s changing stance on uranium mining.
TARA DE LANDGRAFFT
Well WA’s Labor Party has slightly relaxed its stance on uranium mining in WA. The move has welcomed by industry groups and up-and-coming mining companies alike. WA’s Chamber of Minerals and Energy Chief Executive Reg Howard-Smith says while it’s only a small change in mind-set it’s a step forward for the resources sector.
REG HOWARD-SMITH
We welcome the change I suppose and say there has been a somewhat a quasi-relaxation to the oppositions stance on the industry but it is a softening of attitude in that it will, if there is a change of power at the next election, allow mines that have received approval to proceed. And as we say we welcome that but I think it needs to go a lot further than just those [mines] that have sought approval, into those that are also either in the exploration stage or the feasibility stage.
Uranium is fuel for the future. Many places around the world, it’s a fuel that’s a fuel here and now but we do see growing demand for it and I think that has to be recognised by people in the Labor Party.
TARA DE LANDGRAFFT
You mention that this has come about due to the change in leadership in the state Labor Party, do you think that the mindset has also changed due to the federal change in mindset late last year as well?
REG HOWARD-SMITH
Yes, and certainly and when one looks at the history of uranium mining in Australia that in many respects the federal Labor Party, has been a pro uranium party so while there has certainly been opposition in the Australian Labor Party for many years there has also been quite progressive as far as uranium mining. I‘m sure there is some influence coming from that national policy but the interesting position also is that the majority of West Australians do understand that uranium mining is not only safe but important for that growing fuel source.
TARA DE LANDGRAFFT
With that being said, why do you think the state Labor Party is not recognising the full potential of the uranium industry?
REG HOWARD-SMITH
Certainly it is a diverse party like any party is a diverse party and to have a range of views and in this state there has been long-term opposition to uranium mining and nuclear power.
TARA DE LANDGRAFFT
Since the Liberal-National Party came into power in WA back in 2008, exploration into uranium really did explode. Do you think this adds I suppose, a little bit more weight to those going out and looking for money when it comes to exploration within WA?
REG HOWARD-SMITH
Yes and of course when that change in policy with the current government occurred we certainly embraced that or welcomed it, that was a refreshing policy change, there is no doubt about that. That did lead to further exploration and of course now we are seeing a number of those projects moving to the approval process which is good. We will see operations coming on board in the next few years. And I hope that decision does give some confidence because there were great concerns, sovereign risk concerns around the comments that were previously coming out of the Labor party. And there are still some concerns, those concerns have not been wiped away completely of course from yesterday’s announcement, so that’s where we say there are still quite serious concerns about operations that not only the approvals process should there be a change in government and we would call on the Labor Party to further revise their policy.
TARA DE LANDGRAFFT
You mention there is almost a bit of a turn-around in public opinion towards uranium mining certainly from the surveys you’ve done, yet there is still a flagged inquiry into uranium mine safety so where do you hope that will go?
REG HOWARD-SMITH
In some ways we welcome that inquiry because the uranium mining industry in Australia and of course we are not talking about Western Australia in this case where it has not been taking place but in South Australia and the Northern Territory has a very very good record so that inqury, I’m sure is going to come out and indicate that the record of uranium mining in this country is first class.
I would hope that if that’s the outcome, which I would expect from the inquiry the Labor party are planning to undertake, that at that point in time they will embrace uranium mining without restriction.
TARA DE LANDGRAFFT
That’s WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy Chief Executive Reg Howard-Smith there.