NT: Fed govt takes control to allow uranium mining in NT

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2005
NT: Fed govt takes control to allow uranium mining in NT

The federal government has declared the Northern Territory open to uranium mining,
taking control of the future of the territory's rich uranium deposits.

The statement followed a 15-minute meeting in Darwin yesterday between the federal
and territory resource ministers.

Federal Resources Minister IAN MACFARLANE says the federal government sought legal
advice after Northern Territory Chief Minister CLARE MARTIN vowed in June to ban any new
uranium mines.

The Northern Territory government says it has now obtained its own similar advice,
which says the Commonwealth has the power to override any ban.

About a dozen companies are currently exploring for uranium in the resource-rich territory,
which is home to some $12 billion worth of known uranium deposits.

AAP RTV km/wz/rt/psm/

KEYWORD: URANIUM (DARWIN)

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