Newman admits Qld uranium decision not backed by research
QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman has revealed there were no economic or employment figures to back the state overturning a 30-year ban on mining uranium.
Speaking on ABC Radio, Mr Newman was asked by a caller to release the modelling used to justify the decision to which he responded, "We don't have any".
"I'll say that right up front," Mr Newman said.
"But what we do have is the background to us overturning the decision.
"We went to the election saying we had no plans to mine uranium and that's very much where we were."
The Premier said comments by the Federal Mines Minister Martin Ferguson, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Mt Isa mayor Tony McGrady prompted him, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps to take the issue to a cabinet meeting.
"We had a plan to review the policy but cabinet was far more positive about uranium mining, and we moved from review to implementation," he said.
The decision has raised the ire of environmental advocates including Greenpeace and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
