Wednesday 28^th November 2001

THIS HONEYMOON WILL LAST FOR 250,000 YEARS

The Australian Democrats have condemned today’s decision by the Kerin Government giving the green light for in-situ acid leach mining of uranium at the Honeymoon mine in the far north east of the state.

"This primitive, dirty and dangerous mining practice has no place in the Australian environment, says Sandra Kanck, Democrats Deputy Leader.

"The decision confirms South Australia as a guinea pig for the extraction of uranium by sulphuric acid in-situ leach mining.

"South Australia contains the only sites in the developed world, Honeymoon and Beverley, where this process used because of potential ground water pollution problems.

"Today’s decision indicates the Kerin Government is willing to place the environmental future of South Australia in hock for a few pennies.

"The risk of leaving future generations a toxic legacy as a result of an accident greatly outweigh the modest financial benefits that will flow to taxpayers.

"Indeed the Kerin Government’s support for the opening of the mine is steeped in hypocrisy.

"The Liberal Government has legislated against the location of a high level nuclear waste dump in South Australia but it encourages the mining and export of the raw material of high level nuclear waste.

"It’s like complaining about fatalities from road accidents and selling dodgy car tyres on the side.

"South Australia should be limiting its involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle – not adding to the stock pile of nuclear waste that will remain toxic for the next 250,000 years."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Sandra Kanck

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