Anti-Uranium protestors have pledged to block the opening of mines following the state government’s plan to allow uranium exploration.
Demonstrators rallied outside NSW Parliament House last Wednesday February 22, against Barry O’Farrell’s new legislation to overturn a ban on uranium exploration in NSW.
Spokesperson for the Beyond Nuclear Initiative, Nat Wasley, said she doesn’t support any stage of the nuclear industry explanding in Australia.
“[Barry O’Farrell] may get his legislation through [parliament] but he won’t get a mine open,” said Ms Wasley.
Ms Wasley said the lunch time rally, of about 50 people, was a good indication of a strong sentiment against Mr O’Farrell’s uranium exploits and that the government should be looking at alternative renewable energy resources.
“Australia is at the crossroads now to be a world leader in renewable resources,”said Ms Wasley.
“[Australia should] export [renewable] technology rather than pursuing this dead-end toxic path of nuclear which leaves radioactive waste that must be managed for 10s of 1000s of years.”
This view is shared by Yukiko Hirano, whose strong anti-uranium sentiments were formed after she witnessed the destruction left by the Fukushima Nuclear Plant following the 2011 Tsunami, Japan.
“I didn’t think about [nuclear power], apart from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I didn’t connect bomb and nuclear until it happened last year when I realised same uranium used in the bomb and in nuclear power station,” she said.
Ms Hirano has visited Japan on several occassions since the disaster and she said the destruction left her speechless.
“The gravel, the destruction. Most towns are still as bad as one year ago.”
However, a spokesperson for Mr O’Farrel said: “The Premier has repeatedly ruled out any nuclear plants in NSW. That is simply scaremongering from Labor and the Greens.”
Mr O’Farrell said NSW wants to be part of the mining boom which is delivering enormous profits and jobs to Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia.
“We are not about to rush into mining uranium until we have carried out the necessary environmental and exploration checks and have had a mature and sensible discussion about utilising this resource, but we would be crazy not to look at whether this is a viable industry which would deliver jobs and revenue to NSW.”
However, Greens upper house MP, Jeremy Buckingham said mining uranium was unneccessary and Australia should be promoting green, clean and sustainable energy.
“The lifecycle analysis shows there are massive costs from facilitating uranium mining: Social health, waste management and costs to the environment,” said Mr Buckingham.
He said there are only few jobs to be gained from mining and this is at a loss from renewable energy industries such as solar and wind power.
“Barry O’Farrell has a love affair with dirty energy such as coal, coal seam gas and uranium.”
By Kristie Beattie
