❓ A parliamentary question challenges the Premier's uranium mining ban, citing pre-existing leases. The Premier defends the policy, highlighting approval processes and planned legislation, while attacking the opposition's lack of policy.
AnsweredQoN 515Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Premier’s strident comments in this Parliament on 30 August this year regarding his government’s apparent total ban on uranium mining. The Premier said - The Labor Party put forward a very clear position that it is opposed to uranium mining in Western Australia. I further refer the Premier to the fine print of his policy, which was announced by the former Minister for State Development, Hon Clive Brown, in 2002, when he said the following - I wish to announce that the Western Australian Government has prohibited the mining of uranium . . . from any mining leases granted from Saturday, 22 June 2002 . . . I ask - (1) Is it not true that the following five uranium mining leases were fully granted before 22 June 2002 and are able to be mined for uranium right now under the Premier’s government: lease 08/86, lease 08/87, lease 08/88, lease 53/224 and lease 53/336? (2) Did the Premier deliberately mislead this Parliament, or is he just unaware of his own uranium mining policy? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I am well aware of my policy, but the Leader of the Opposition is not aware of his because he does not have one. The Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgot to talk about the approvals processes that would have to be followed for those leases about which he spoke, which processes of course would be underpinned by the policies of my government. What is more, we are looking at the question of legislation to ensure that there is no uranium mining in Western Australia. Let me add to all of that: we went to two elections on the basis of this policy, and we would expect all those who are involved - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
(1) Is it not true that the following five uranium mining leases were fully granted before 22 June 2002 and are able to be mined for uranium right now under the Premier’s government: lease 08/86, lease 08/87, lease 08/88, lease 53/224 and lease 53/336? (2) Did the Premier deliberately mislead this Parliament, or is he just unaware of his own uranium mining policy? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am well aware of my policy, but the Leader of the Opposition is not aware of his because he does not have one. The Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgot to talk about the approvals processes that would have to be followed for those leases about which he spoke, which processes of course would be underpinned by the policies of my government. What is more, we are looking at the question of legislation to ensure that there is no uranium mining in Western Australia. Let me add to all of that: we went to two elections on the basis of this policy, and we would expect all those who are involved - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
(2) Did the Premier deliberately mislead this Parliament, or is he just unaware of his own uranium mining policy? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am well aware of my policy, but the Leader of the Opposition is not aware of his because he does not have one. The Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgot to talk about the approvals processes that would have to be followed for those leases about which he spoke, which processes of course would be underpinned by the policies of my government. What is more, we are looking at the question of legislation to ensure that there is no uranium mining in Western Australia. Let me add to all of that: we went to two elections on the basis of this policy, and we would expect all those who are involved - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am well aware of my policy, but the Leader of the Opposition is not aware of his because he does not have one. The Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgot to talk about the approvals processes that would have to be followed for those leases about which he spoke, which processes of course would be underpinned by the policies of my government. What is more, we are looking at the question of legislation to ensure that there is no uranium mining in Western Australia. Let me add to all of that: we went to two elections on the basis of this policy, and we would expect all those who are involved - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
(1)-(2) I am well aware of my policy, but the Leader of the Opposition is not aware of his because he does not have one. The Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgot to talk about the approvals processes that would have to be followed for those leases about which he spoke, which processes of course would be underpinned by the policies of my government. What is more, we are looking at the question of legislation to ensure that there is no uranium mining in Western Australia. Let me add to all of that: we went to two elections on the basis of this policy, and we would expect all those who are involved - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
(1) Is it not true that the following five uranium mining leases were fully granted before 22 June 2002 and are able to be mined for uranium right now under the Premier’s government: lease 08/86, lease 08/87, lease 08/88, lease 53/224 and lease 53/336? (2) Did the Premier deliberately mislead this Parliament, or is he just unaware of his own uranium mining policy? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am well aware of my policy, but the Leader of the Opposition is not aware of his because he does not have one. The Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgot to talk about the approvals processes that would have to be followed for those leases about which he spoke, which processes of course would be underpinned by the policies of my government. What is more, we are looking at the question of legislation to ensure that there is no uranium mining in Western Australia. Let me add to all of that: we went to two elections on the basis of this policy, and we would expect all those who are involved - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
(2) Did the Premier deliberately mislead this Parliament, or is he just unaware of his own uranium mining policy? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am well aware of my policy, but the Leader of the Opposition is not aware of his because he does not have one. The Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgot to talk about the approvals processes that would have to be followed for those leases about which he spoke, which processes of course would be underpinned by the policies of my government. What is more, we are looking at the question of legislation to ensure that there is no uranium mining in Western Australia. Let me add to all of that: we went to two elections on the basis of this policy, and we would expect all those who are involved - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am well aware of my policy, but the Leader of the Opposition is not aware of his because he does not have one. The Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgot to talk about the approvals processes that would have to be followed for those leases about which he spoke, which processes of course would be underpinned by the policies of my government. What is more, we are looking at the question of legislation to ensure that there is no uranium mining in Western Australia. Let me add to all of that: we went to two elections on the basis of this policy, and we would expect all those who are involved - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
(1)-(2) I am well aware of my policy, but the Leader of the Opposition is not aware of his because he does not have one. The Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgot to talk about the approvals processes that would have to be followed for those leases about which he spoke, which processes of course would be underpinned by the policies of my government. What is more, we are looking at the question of legislation to ensure that there is no uranium mining in Western Australia. Let me add to all of that: we went to two elections on the basis of this policy, and we would expect all those who are involved - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time, and I call the member for Nedlands to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : We would expect those who are involved in the private sector to respect that policy. We will back it up with our policy within government through the administrative processes that we have, and we will also back it up with legislation. We are absolutely clear on this. The effort of the Leader of the Opposition to imply that the government of Western Australia is not firm on this issue is pathetic. He is trying to cover up his own incapacity to develop a policy on one of the major issues facing our state and our nation today.
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