26/06/2026
โข๏ธ๐Katterโs Australian Party has renewed its push to lift the stateโs ban on uranium mining, arguing the North West is home to a multi-billion-dollar export opportunity as global demand for nuclear fuel grows.
A KAP motion calling for the ban โ ๏ธ๐ซto be lifted was debated in Parliament on Wednesday, but was not supported by either major party.
โIt just seems insane that weโre not participating in this industry,โ Traeger MP Robbie Katter said.
โ๏ธRight now, Queensland allows uranium exploration... but companies are not allowed to deliberately mine it or dig it up to sell.
Mr Katter acknowledged lifting the ban would not mean immediate revenue for Queensland, but argued that was not a reason to avoid the debate.
โIโm not going to say itโll be instant wealth tomorrow, but thatโs not a reason not to do it.โ
๐๏ธ In a February Question on Notice, Resources Minister Dale Last said: โUranium mining does not form part of the Queensland Governmentโs plan for the resources sector.โ
MORE ON URANIUM MINING ๐ ๏ธ
- Australia has some of the worldโs biggest uranium resources, but whether they can be mined is largely up to the states and territories.
- Federally, uranium can be exported from Australia.
- Queensland allows uranium exploration, but not deliberate production.
- Uranium mining in Australia is currently only permitted in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
๐
Queensland uranium mining timeline:
โข 1989: Queenslandโs Labor Government introduced a policy ban on uranium mining.
โข 2012: Campbell Newmanโs LNP Government lifted the ban.
โข 2015: Labor returned to government and reinstated the ban.
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