Uranium
The ALP election platform called for a ban on new uranium mines, apart from mines in which the production of uranium was incidental to that of other minerals, and for the phasing out of the existing Ranger and Narbalek mines in the Northern Territory. There was some uncertainty as to whether 'phasing out' implied immediate closure, or would permit the completion of existing contracts and even the securing of new ones. In October 1983 Cabinet, on the recommendations of Energy Minister Senator Peter Walsh, decided that the Roxby Downs mine in South Australia could proceed if it proved commercially viable because uranium was incidental to other production. No other new mine would be approved and all future exports would be subject to stringent safeguards. Uranium exports to France had already been suspended.
Selected documents
| Series title | Date range | Series number | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | [Hawke] Submission 385, 29 August 1983, Review of Australian uranium industry | 1983 | A13977, 385 |
