Northern Territory Uranium Miners Lack Certainty

Jodeen Carney said the Chief Minister must put on record the Northern Territory Government's support for expanding the uranium mining industry in the Territory.

"Since Clare Martin has come to office she has delivered nothing to the uranium mining industry but uncertainty,” Ms Carney said.

Mining is a massive industry and employer in the Territory and the next uranium mine in Australia simply must be in the Territory.

"Further vacillating by the Chief Minister on this matter will cost the Territory income, jobs and future growth opportunities.

Territorians are proud to be Territorians and right now we have a Labor Government that is making decisions about our future industries based on the position of the Federal Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley.

"This failure to give certainty is disgraceful and is costing us enormous opportunities. The fact is that Clare Martin is a fence sitter which is why she won't support expansion of the uranium mining industry and the opening of another mine in the Territory.

"Even though the economy is growing at the moment, the Government must not sit on its hands, it must have the vision to take us forward and invest in the future otherwise we will get left behind.

"If the Government does not offer security to the uranium and other areas of mining in the Territory, it will be the workers and families of the Territory who will suffer.

2006-07-24