IT’S TIME TO END WA'S URANIUM MINING BAN

A future Liberal-National Government will lift Western Australia's uranium mining ban, saying a landmark agreement to export Australian uranium to India demonstrates why the Cook Labor Government's ideological prohibition is costing West Australian jobs, revenue, investment and strategic opportunities.

Opposition Leader and Shadow State Development Minister Basil Zempilas said Western Australia was sitting on some of the world's largest uranium reserves, yet Labor's ideological ban was preventing the State from realising the economic benefits.

Nationals WA Leader and Shadow Mines and Petroleum Minister Shane Love MLA said the Cook Government was turning its back on jobs, investment and regional development at a time when global demand for uranium was rapidly increasing.

"Western Australia is a resources powerhouse, yet under Labor we are locking away one of our most valuable mineral assets," Mr Zempilas said.

"Global demand for uranium is growing and Western Australia is being left behind because of an ideological ban.

"Uranium will play a critical role in the global energy transition, support the growth of AI and advanced technologies, and create significant economic opportunities for our State.

"The ban is outdated, it is economically damaging and it makes no sense. A Liberal-National Government will lift it."

Mr Love said Labor's uranium ban was costing Western Australia jobs, investment and export income. "The absurdity is that companies can spend years and millions of dollars discovering uranium deposits in WA, but are prohibited from developing them,” he said. "While other jurisdictions are moving ahead, Western Australia is standing still.”

Mr Love said the choice facing West Australians was straightforward. “While Federal Labor is backing uranium exports to support India’s energy security and decarbonisation, WA Labor continues to block the industry that could help meet that growing demand,” he said.

“The Prime Minister recognises the importance of accelerating climate action through partnerships like the India–Australia Renewable Energy Partnership. WA Labor should do the same.

“Western Australia can either maintain Labor’s ban and watch jobs and investment go elsewhere, or embrace a new export industry that strengthens regional communities and grows our economy.

"A Liberal-National Government will back jobs, back regional Western Australia and back responsible uranium development."

Western Australia holds approximately 226,000 tonnes of known uranium resources and has the potential to become one of the world's leading uranium producers.

Industry estimates suggest lifting the ban could generate more than $1 billion in annual exports and create up to 9,000 jobs across the life of approved projects.

Media Contact: Graham Mason 0419 194 792 or Deb Olds 0447 228 417