Time to remove EPBC Act uranium red-tape
The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) supports the Minerals Council of Australia’s call for amendment of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (‘EPBC Act’) to streamline environmental approvals for uranium projects.
SACOME lobbied extensively for the streamlining of the EPBC Act arrangements, specifically the removal of the nuclear trigger prior to the 2018 South Australian State Election. Uranium mining does not require extraordinary regulatory treatment under the EPBC Act to ensure its safe operation and the avoidance of unacceptable environmental impacts as it is already stringently regulated at a State level.
Environmental assessment expert Lachlan Wilkinson’s report, released today, reaffirms that radiation safety and nuclear proliferation are exhaustively regulated outside of the EPBC Act.
Wilkinson found that radiation safety is not unique to uranium and is comprehensively assessed and regulated by State-based regimes, with further Federal review providing additional costs to business with no tangible benefit.
Importantly, proliferation concerns are dealt with by other legislation and treaties.
Australia has the largest amount of uranium deposits in the world, yet accounts for only 10 per cent of the world’s production.
This is in part due to the EPBC Act, which treats two mines with identical impacts differently merely because of the commodity being mined.
The 10-year statutory review of the EPBC Act due next year provides an opportunity to address the red-tape burden on uranium imposed by the Act.
SACOME CEO Rebecca Knol said: “The South Australian resources sector already employs over 11,000 South Australians and is responsible for a third of the State’s exports worth $4 billion and contributes $214 million in royalties to the South Australian Government.
"However, over the past decade, the South Australian unemployment rate has continually been above the national average, so the release of a report advocating for the removal of unnecessary burdens on our world-class uranium producers, developers and explorers who want a greater share of growing global demand is most welcome.
"South Australians cannot afford to be missing out on jobs and investment due to the treatment of uranium mining projects in the EPBC Act.
"Government, industry and the community together need to do all that we can to create an environment in South Australia where business will flourish to ensure that our children have a prosperous future here in South Australia.”
Media contact:
Rebecca Knol, CEO SACOME, 0409 012 007
The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) supports the Minerals Council of Australia’s call for amendment of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (‘EPBC Act’) to streamline environmental approvals for uranium projects.
SACOME lobbied extensively for the streamlining of the EPBC Act arrangements, specifically the removal of the nuclear trigger prior to the 2018 South Australian State Election. Uranium mining does not require extraordinary regulatory treatment under the EPBC Act to ensure its safe operation and the avoidance of unacceptable environmental impacts as it is already stringently regulated at a State level.
Environmental assessment expert Lachlan Wilkinson’s report, released today, reaffirms that radiation safety and nuclear proliferation are exhaustively regulated outside of the EPBC Act.
Wilkinson found that radiation safety is not unique to uranium and is comprehensively assessed and regulated by State-based regimes, with further Federal review providing additional costs to business with no tangible benefit.
Importantly, proliferation concerns are dealt with by other legislation and treaties.
Australia has the largest amount of uranium deposits in the world, yet accounts for only 10 per cent of the world’s production.
This is in part due to the EPBC Act, which treats two mines with identical impacts differently merely because of the commodity being mined.
The 10-year statutory review of the EPBC Act due next year provides an opportunity to address the red-tape burden on uranium imposed by the Act.
SACOME CEO Rebecca Knol said: “The South Australian resources sector already employs over 11,000 South Australians and is responsible for a third of the State’s exports worth $4 billion and contributes $214 million in royalties to the South Australian Government.
"However, over the past decade, the South Australian unemployment rate has continually been above the national average, so the release of a report advocating for the removal of unnecessary burdens on our world-class uranium producers, developers and explorers who want a greater share of growing global demand is most welcome.
"South Australians cannot afford to be missing out on jobs and investment due to the treatment of uranium mining projects in the EPBC Act.
"Government, industry and the community together need to do all that we can to create an environment in South Australia where business will flourish to ensure that our children have a prosperous future here in South Australia.”
Media contact:
Rebecca Knol, CEO SACOME, 0409 012 007