Indigenous, environment, union and public health groups are astounded at the Department of Mines and Petroleum's (DMP) appointment of a so-called 'independent expert panel' to provide advice on uranium mining regulations in WA, to the Australian Centre for Geomechanics. The organisation's affiliates include BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto - both of whom have uranium interests in WA.

The WA Conservation Council and UnionsWA have raised concerns that the appointed panel has a clear pro uranium mining bias compromising their independence and are concerned about the transparency and scope of the panel.

Despite widespread public concern over uranium mining, the appointed panel has no health or safety experts, no scope to consult with traditional land owners, no obligation to meet with community stakeholders and the DMP is refusing to release the terms of reference by which the panel was appointed.

Mia Pepper, Nuclear Free Campaigner, Conservation Council WA said, "It is clear that the WA Government is feeling pressure from their fast track approach to uranium mining. The panel will cover some serious issues but will leave out many more that need to be addressed."

"In no way could this panel be called independent with corporate sponsors like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto - two of Australia's biggest players in uranium - and in no way could this process be called transparent as terms of reference for the panel remain confidential."

"An investigation into uranium mining in WA should address; accumulative impacts on water resources and groundwater dependent ecosystems, the consent and consultation process of Traditional Owners and pastoralists, Australian uranium contributing to proliferation risks, the use of depleted uranium in munitions and the generation and management of nuclear waste. This panel is about generating some brownie points for uranium mining and the DMP, not about addressing public concerns," said Mia Pepper.

Simone McGurk, UnionsWA Secretary, said that any panel appointed to look at uranium mining regulations should include independent health and safety experts and employee representatives. "The WA mining industry has a poor worker safety record as it is and uranium mining poses even greater health risks as uranium mine workers are exposed to radiation from the ore itself and from the inhalation of radon gas."

"BHP Billiton is likely to run the first uranium mine in WA and it already has a highly questionable commitment to worker safety, with a number of tragic incidents on its mines just this year. Surely these incidents prove that mining companies like BHP cannot be trusted to ensure the safety of their workers and that worker safety must be integral to any panel investigating mining regulation," said Simone McGurk.