Labor totally divided on uranium

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has criticised the Queensland and Federal Labor Parties for being hopelessly divided over uranium mining and export. 

“Queensland Labor needs to tell Queenslanders exactly where it stands on uranium mining,” Mr Seeney said. 

“At the moment they are totally out of touch with virtually every other branch of the Labor Party across Australia. 

“Annastacia Palaszczuk is wildly criticising uranium mining yet her Federal leaders and counterparts are welcoming today’s decision by the Newman Government to recommence uranium mining in Queensland. 

“It’s about time the Opposition Leader talked about what her policy is rather than stand by the way side in a policy free zone. 

“Federal Labor Resources Minister Martin Ferguson fully supports the mining and export of uranium and has been saying so quite publicly for a long period of time. 

“Prime Minister Gillard has just returned from India where she was selling the benefits of Australia’s uranium output and telling India we would supply its uranium needs. 

“South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia all have uranium mines and Queensland is missing out by locking this resource away. 

“Of course that was the Beattie-Bligh-Greens long standing position to deny mining development and the jobs and income it would bring. 

“Now is an opportune time for Ms Palaszczuk to break free of the blindfolded view of her predecessors. 

“We look forward to hearing her position. 

“It’s about time she made a positive contribution to the political debate rather than sitting on the sidelines carping as the world passes her by.” 

[ENDS] 22 October 2012

Media Contact: John Wiseman – 0409 791 281