No-uranium protesters rally at parliament

22 Feb 2012, 2:35 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Anti-nuclear protesters at the ALP national conference last December. (Beyond Nuclear Initiative)

Anti-nuclear protesters at the ALP national conference last December. (Beyond Nuclear Initiative)

Demonstrators have rallied outside NSW Parliament House to voice their opposition to state government plans to allow a uranium industry.

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Demonstrators in white coats and masks have gathered outside NSW Parliament House to protest against state government plans to allow uranium exploration.

Images of destruction from Japan's tsunami and "No-nuclear" signs were held outside the gates as about 50 people took to Macquarie Street during the lunch hour, chanting: "Shame Barry Shame".

NSW Deputy Opposition Leader Linda Burney told the crowd Premier Barry O'Farrell couldn't be trusted, after he revealed plans to reverse a 25-year ban on uranium exploration in the state.

"Do not trust Barry O'Farrell," she said.

"Just before the election ... he said that he was not interested in nuclear exploration and mining in NSW.

"He has now given the go-ahead for exploration."

Earlier, Ms Burney told AAP that NSW Labor remained opposed to uranium mining and exploration, despite the federal Labor conference in December voting to undo its longstanding three-mines policy limiting the number of uranium mines in the country.

Standing beside her, Greens upper house MP Jeremy Buckingham told demonstrators his party stood with NSW Labor in opposing uranium mining.

"This uranium mining bill is unnecessary - we'll fight it tooth and nail," he said.

"The Greens will stand with the Labor Party in completely opposing any plans that ... create a uranium mining industry in NSW."

Protest MC Nat Wasley, from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative, said uranium exports made up just one-third of one per cent of Australia's export revenue, and were a danger to the environment.

"Long after Barry O'Farrell is dead and gone from this earth, radioactive waste from uranium mining operations will live on for future generations to look after and that's why we're standing here today," she said.

The state government's bill to overturn the ban on uranium exploration was introduced into the lower house last week.

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