Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications
Legislation Committee

Answers to questions on notice
Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities portfolio

Budget Estimates, May 2013
Program: Division or Agency:

Topic:Best practice standards for storing contaminated materials

Senator Ludlam asked:

Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Budget Estimates 2013-14; 4 June 2013
Answers to questions on notice from Department of Veterans' Affairs
Question 51
Outcome 1: Program 1.4
Topic: British Nuclear Tests - 1984-85 Royal Commission
(FADT Hansard Proof 4 June 2013, p 91 & 93)

Senator LUDLAM asked:

Page 91

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (12:34): I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2014:

The benefits and risks of the uranium mining industry and the adequacy of federal regulation of the sector, including:

The tenuous financial viability of Western Australia's first proposed uranium mine is the subject of a new research paper undertaken by independent market analysts Economists at Large, commissioned by Western Australian Senator Scott Ludlam and a range of environmental groups.

"The study shows that Toro's proposed Wiluna Project may scrape into financially viability if absolutely every possible variable goes Toro's way - but only if the company can avoid clean-up and decommissioning costs," said Senator Ludlam.

The financial viability of Western Australia’s first proposed uranium mine is the subject of a new research paper undertaken by independent market analysts Economists at Large, commissioned by Senator Scott Ludlam and a range of environmental groups.