Bill Mason, Brisbane
A battle over uranium mining has divided the union movement in Queensland, following the announcement by the right-wing-led Australian Workers Union (AWU) that it will press Labor Premier Peter Beattie's government to open uranium mines. Up until now there have been no uranium mines in this state, despite it having rich uranium deposits.
Labor federal resources spokesperson Laurie Ferguson has also urged Beattie to scrap restrictions on uranium mining. This follows pressure from the federal Coalition government and the Queensland Resources Council, representing the state's mining companies, to lift the state's ban on uranium mining.
AWU state secretary Bill Ludwig was quoted in the September 9 Brisbane Courier-Mail as saying that if someone wanted to open a uranium mine in Queensland, his union would be there to "dig it up".
"We are supportive of uranium mining, no question. People have to get their energy from somewhere", Ludwig said.
However other unions have opposed the AWU plan, vowing to take their fight against uranium mining to the floor of both the Queensland and national ALP conferences, according to the Courier-Mail.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Andrew Dettmar said his union would strongly oppose the expansion of uranium mining in Australia and the opening of uranium mines in Queensland. "The legitimate argument that fossil fuels are harming the atmosphere is not an excuse to accelerate the switch to an even more dangerous product", Dettmar said.
The Queensland branches of the Transport Workers Union and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union have supported the continued ban on uranium mining in Queensland.
So far, Beattie has refused to budge in response to Ferguson's and the AWU's call. "I support the coal industry. I don't support the uranium industry and I am not going to change my mind", held told the Courier-Mail.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, September 21, 2005.
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