CANBERRA, Australia, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Australia's federal government has seized control of uranium mining in its Northern Territory to ensure the industry can grow.
Uranium mining interests have faced provincial and territorial government bans by Labor Party leaders opposed to expanded uranium mining, the Australian reported in its Friday edition.
Federal Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane said he took the step to ensure the expansion of exports to meet growing demands for nuclear energy worldwide.
Australia's booming minerals industry welcomed Macfarlane's move and urged the governments of Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia to reconsider their bans on new uranium mining.
"With global markets for uranium buoyant, there is considerable scope for an expansion of Australia's uranium trade," said Mitch Hooke, head of the Minerals Council of Australia.
