Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has lost his way after the former anti-nuclear campaigner approved the country's fourth uranium mine, Greens leader Bob Brown says.
Senator Brown told reporters Mr Garrett's move to give the go-ahead to the Four Mile mine in South Australia was an incredible decision that showed the minister had bowed to the Labor Party machine.
Senator Brown said the mine used an acidic process to extract uranium that would not be permitted in the US or Europe.
"Peter Garrett has lost his way in ticking off the unnecessary desalination plant in Victoria and ticking off an unnecessary uranium mine," he said.
Senator Brown said the ALP was now a party of big business, not the environment.
"Peter has sacrificed himself to Labor politics," Senator Brown said.
"It is as if the Howard government was not voted out of office - it's just changed its name."
Senator Brown was in Melbourne supporting protesters campaigning against the proposed desalination plant at Wonthaggi, 132km southeast of the city.
Email a friend