The Labor Party leader in Western Australia seems to be at odds with his Federal counterparts.
Mr Eric Ripper pledged at a public rally that no uranium mines would be allowed in Western Australia. He even promised to close any operating uranium mine if they won the election in 2013. He added that no compensation would be paid to mines which are involved in exploration and development work in the state.
In response Mines Minister Norman Moore said that to suggest that anybody who's got a uranium mine or a mining lease that could simply be taken away from them without any compensation completely ignores the rule of law. Mr Moore said that added to the carbon tax and the Gillard mining tax it made you wonder what the Labor party had against the mining industry.
The Australian Uranium Association has said that four projects are in advanced stages in the state with over a billion dollars having been already invested. They project revenue worth $460 million from uranium mining by 2030 pushing the state’s economic growth alongside.
Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said that the Western Australia branch of the Labor Party seem more focused on securing Green preferences and it should not be forgotten that the Greens oppose not only the expansion of the uranium industry but also the petroleum industry.
Companies like Toro Energy, Cameco and Mega Uranium have made considerable investment into the uranium mining industry in the state in the two and half years since the uranium mining ban was lifted. Premier Colin Barnett lifted the state's uranium mining ban in 2008 as one of his first acts after becoming Premier.
Toro managing director Greg Hall said that they hoped to take the project to the board next year for a final investment decision. He said that the company was continuing work despite the uncertainty as he believed that most West Australian supported the mine. Toro Energy’s project at Wiluna is the most advanced in the state and is expected to begin production in 2012.