Support is growing for a policy that would allow for uranium exploration in Australia's Northern Territory, according to a recent article in The Australian.
A country Liberal Party (CLP) MP in the Northern Territory has backed a proposed review of the viability of a uranium enrichment industry in Australia's top end.
The Member for Solomon, David Tollner, today said he would strongly support a motion for the review to be put to the CLP central council meeting this weekend.
"I have been a longstanding supporter of looking at how we can further develop the uranium industry in the Northern Territory," Mr Tollner said today.
"There are countries such as China who are developing at an enormous rate and with it are putting pressure on the limited energy resources of this planet.
"Along with Canada we have the bulk of the world's uranium resources, however, it remains a relatively untapped industry here in Australia."
Mr Tollner said it was time for a "fair dinkum" look at uranium enrichment from the perspective of what could be in it for the territory . . .
"Why is it that we are only involved in the mining and export of this resource and not in the value-adding component of this industry," he said.
"The enrichment process could be a massive industry here in the territory and one that would give us a greater level of control of how this resource is used and sold internationally.
"It would be foolish for any government to, out-of-hand, rule out developing such an industry without at least first getting the facts on the table."
The motion to go before this weekend's council meeting welcomes the national debate on alternative energy supplies including nuclear power.
It also calls on the CLP policy committee to undertake research on the costs and benefits to the territory of establishing a local uranium enrichment industry to produce power generation grade rods.
It said the committee should look at the economic benefits from such an industry, job creation, regulations as well as waste, safety and security issues.
Mr Tollner said if the review found that a uranium enrichment industry was potentially viable he would "be the first to put my weight of support behind getting the industry up and running".
A country Liberal Party (CLP) MP in the Northern Territory has backed a proposed review of the viability of a uranium enrichment industry in Australia's top end.
The Member for Solomon, David Tollner, today said he would strongly support a motion for the review to be put to the CLP central council meeting this weekend.
"I have been a longstanding supporter of looking at how we can further develop the uranium industry in the Northern Territory," Mr Tollner said today.
"There are countries such as China who are developing at an enormous rate and with it are putting pressure on the limited energy resources of this planet.
"Along with Canada we have the bulk of the world's uranium resources, however, it remains a relatively untapped industry here in Australia."
Mr Tollner said it was time for a "fair dinkum" look at uranium enrichment from the perspective of what could be in it for the territory . . .
"Why is it that we are only involved in the mining and export of this resource and not in the value-adding component of this industry," he said.
"The enrichment process could be a massive industry here in the territory and one that would give us a greater level of control of how this resource is used and sold internationally.
"It would be foolish for any government to, out-of-hand, rule out developing such an industry without at least first getting the facts on the table."
The motion to go before this weekend's council meeting welcomes the national debate on alternative energy supplies including nuclear power.
It also calls on the CLP policy committee to undertake research on the costs and benefits to the territory of establishing a local uranium enrichment industry to produce power generation grade rods.
It said the committee should look at the economic benefits from such an industry, job creation, regulations as well as waste, safety and security issues.
Mr Tollner said if the review found that a uranium enrichment industry was potentially viable he would "be the first to put my weight of support behind getting the industry up and running".
