ABC News 2 Sept 09
A Western Australian politician says the Kimberley is in danger of becoming the next Wittenoom if the Federal Government allows uranium mining to go ahead.
There are between 30 and 40 uranium tenements in the Kimberley, in the state’s north, and Greens’ MP Robin Chapple says there are at least 12 proposed uranium mines in the region.
Mr Chapple was in Broome for a uranium mining forum last night and says the community has been lulled into a false sense of security about the practice.
He says in some cases, uranium mining in the United States and India has wiped out all of the male members of some families.
“In terms of the health effects we know there’s approximately a cohort of 10 per cent cancers in the workforce after about 20 years – so similar sort of effects as asbestos and Wittenoom [in WA's Pilbara],” he said.
Tags: antinuclear, Australia, general news, health, nuclear issues, uranium
