Oz door opens to uranium miners

Uranium producers including mining giant BHP Billiton are set to benefit from a change of government in the resource-rich state of Western Australia.

Western Australia has as much as 10% of the world's known uranium reserves, worth about A$40 billion (£17.85 billion), according to the Aussie government.

BHP's Yeelirrie resource is one of the state's most advanced along with a project by locally listed firm Toro Energy. A change of government from Labor to the Liberal party means mining of the controversial resource is expected to be opened up.

Liberal leader Colin Barnett will take over from Labor's Alan Carpenter as the state's premier, ending a week of gridlock after a 6 September poll failed to produce a clear winner. The Liberals have said they will allow uranium mining.