The Greens have long supported WA Premier Alan Carpenter's stance against uranium mining, which he firmly reiterated as recently as the June ALP State Conference in Perth, saying, "There will be no nuclear power, no nuclear waste and no uranium mining in WA."

"Carpenter is being tested for the first time with Rio Tinto's US$495 million dollar sale of the Kintyre uranium site in the Pilbara to foreign companies", said Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

"Cameco and Mitsubishi have just gambled half a billion dollars, knowing full well that the Government of Western Australia banned uranium mining in 2002.

"The people of the Pilbara deserve adequate services and decent living standards. They should not be forced to turn to foreign mining corporations to provide what every Australian takes for granted as citizenship entitlements. Aboriginal communities should not be forced to trade their land and culture to polluting industries to get access to health and education services.

While all mining leases granted since 22 June 2002, have a ‘no uranium mining' condition, the Greens (WA) have called on Carpenter to legislate against uranium mining in the state for years.

"In April 2007, Giz Watson MLC's Mining (Implementation of Government Commitments) Bill 2007 was introduced, amending the Mining Act 1978 to prohibit the mining of uranium on mining leases granted from 22 June 2002.

"The ALP have committed at past State Conferences and in the Parliament to enact this legislation. In June 2002, Clive Brown made an announcement in the WA parliament that the ALP intended to amend the Mining Act 1978 to prohibit the mining of uranium for nuclear purposes. And today we say, ‘Alan, JUST DO IT.'