The Newman Government’s new framework for uranium mining makes no economic or environmental sense and threatens the health of Queenslanders.

“The uranium price has been in free fall since 2007 and governments around the world are shutting down nuclear power stations,” Australian Greens Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters said.

"As well as making no economic sense, uranium mining is bad for the health of mine workers, as well as residents near mines and on uranium transport routes.

Australian Greens spokesperson on Nuclear issues, Senator Scott Ludlam. 10 December 2013.

In a bizarre and troubling development, Rio Tinto's Rossing Uranium Mine in Namibia has suffered a disastrous acid spill identical in nature to that which closed the company's Ranger mine in Kakadu on the weekend.

Breaking reports in local media indicate that within three days of the Kakadu collapse, Rio's Namibian operation suffered a catastrophic failure which put workers and the surrounding environment at risk.

Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues, Senator Scott Ludlam. 9 December 2013.

Today in senate question time, Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam asked the Environment Minister's representative about the massive spill of 1.4 million litres of radioactive acid at the Ranger Uranium Mine.

In response to the Government's feeble and evasive answers, Senator Ludlam has submitted a detailed log of questions to Commonwealth environmental regulators and has called for the closure of the mine.

SENATE QUESTION ON NOTICE

Date: 9 December 2013

Senator: Ludlam

To ask the Minister representing the Minster for the Environment

In light of the 7 December 2013 burst tank at the Ranger uranium mine that released up to one million litres of radioactive acid slurry beyond the containment area of the holding tanks endangering Kakadu National Park:

The Australian Greens have called for an indefinite suspension of operations at the Ranger Uranium Mine in Kakadu National Park after a serious accident overnight.

A thousand tonnes of highly acidic radioactive slurry has spilled into the central processing area of the plant, miraculously causing no immediate injuries as workers were evacuated shortly before a leaching tank burst. It is not known at this stage how much of the radioactive leachate has left the mine boundary.