Mining of uranium and thorium prohibited in Western Australia

22/06/02
State Development Minister Clive Brown announced at the State ALP Conference that the Government would prohibit the mining of uranium for nuclear purposes from any mining leases granted after today, other than pursuant to existing rights.
Initially, the mining of uranium will be prohibited under Section 110 of the Mining Act 1978. This allows the Minister to limit mining, in the public interest, to only those minerals specified in a lease. Accordingly, the Minister will ensure that mining leases issued after today will not authorise mining for uranium.
The decision that has been made meets the policy of the Labor Government, which came to power on a platform that included banning the mining and export of uranium.
The policy will be ratified with a Government bill which will also specifically amend the Mining Act 1978 to prohibit the mining of uranium for nuclear purposes.
The Minister emphasised that the decision would not interfere with existing rights under the Mining Act, nor where the mining of uranium was incidental to the mining of other minerals and was not extracted for sale.
By introducing the bill into Parliament, the Government is both implementing its previously announced policy and providing certainty to the resources industry.
Mr Brown also announced that the mining of thorium would be strictly controlled by requiring companies to obtain a separate licence where the thorium content in the ore exceeded prescribed limits. The mining of thorium where it was intended to be used for its nuclear properties would not be permitted.
Uranium and thorium are present in many soils and rocks. These can contain significant economic deposits of other valuable minerals. The implementation of the policy is designed to allow for the extraction and sale of these minerals, while preventing the mining of uranium and thorium for nuclear purposes.
Minister's office: 9222 9699