The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) reveals that a new polling shows the majority of Western Australians support lifting the ban on uranium mining.
The poll, conducted by Painted Dog Research and commissioned by AMEC, featured 806 respondents across metropolitan and regional Western Australia.
AMEC reports 57% of those surveyed responded yes to the question ‘Would you like to see the current ban on uranium mining, implemented in 2017 in WA, lifted?’
This is an increase from a previous industry poll in 2023, which found 49% supported uranium mining.
The poll also found 58% of respondents supported uranium mining as a way of reducing the world’s carbon emissions, while only 15% have little to no support for it.
CEO Warren Pearce says the poll demonstrates that Western Australians see the value in uranium mining for the economy and state.
“It also points to a community understanding that Western Australia is a mining state, with the professionalism and skill to deal with uranium mining in a safe and responsible way,” Pearce says.
“Quite frankly, it’s time for WA Labor to reconsider the current ban and move with the times.”
AMEC says the state government should let voters know before the election, on 8 March 2025, if they are willing to consider overturning the ban if Labor were to be re-elected.
Australia has 1.68 million tonnes of uranium resources, which is double that of Kazakhstan at 815,200 tonnes and Canada at 588,500 tonnes.
However, Australia ranks fourth on uranium production — producing only 4,553 tonnes in 2022, compared to Kazakhstan’s 21,227 tonnes, which is equivalent to 42% of the world’s uranium production, and Canada’s 7,351 tonnes.
Pearce adds that Western Australia has the potential to be the eighth largest uranium source in the world.
“It would create more jobs, attract investment, diversify the economy from iron ore and gold, and create a new billion dollar commodity export market,” the CEO says.
In the recent polling, 46% of respondents disagreed that uranium has been mined safely in Australia for over 50 years.
AMEC says this demonstrates that the respondents are unaware that uranium mining had been happening safely in the past.
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies is a national association representing over 500 member companies from all around the nation.
Mining.com.au is an official member of AMEC.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Stock
