Government running from debate on uranium mining, say Greens

Media Release, 15 November 2007

Greens MLC Giz Watson has welcomed the passage in the Lower House of the government's anti-nuclear Bill, but questioned why it is not prepared to debate her Bill on uranium mining.

"The government is happy to debate nuclear power stations in the lead up to the Federal election, but it is running a mile from debating uranium mining", Ms Watson said.

Ms Watson pointed out that:

• The Government's Nuclear Facilities Prohibition Bill 2007 was introduced to the Legislative Assembly on 20 June 2007 and has been debated and passed.
• The Greens Uranium Mining (Implementation of Government Commitments) Bill 2007 was introduced to the Legislative Council two and a half months earlier, on 4 April 2007, but has not been given time to be debated.
• The Greens have requested that time be allocated to debate their Bill on a number of occasions.