Garrett's beds are burning: critics

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett appears to have alienated another group he made his name singing about - indigenous people.

Mr Garrett sang about the need to make amends to Aborigines in his smash hit song Beds are burning.

"The time has come, a fact's a fact, it belongs to them, let's give it back," runs the chorus.

But as environment minister he's singing a different tune.

Mr Garrett has approved a new uranium mine for South Australia - and some traditional owners aren't happy.

They are worried about their land "being raped by mining companies" and have called for the approval for the Four Mile mine to be deferred.

Adnyamathanha elder Enice Marsh has asked the SA and federal governments for an independent investigation into the Aboriginal heritage of the Four Mile site.

"What more can we do to protect our land from being raped by mining companies that are allowed to pollute the water and carve up the waterways, even contaminate the soil with radioactive waste?" Ms Marsh said.

"Aboriginal people have no rights under Native Title to protect our heritage."

Mr Garrett told reporters that approving the mine had not let down Aboriginal people.

"In fact, there is an agreement between traditional owners and Aboriginal people in South Australia and the proponents on this matter," he said.

"And I expect that Aboriginal communities will receive benefits as a consequence of the decision that has been taken."

Mr Garrett answered criticism from the Greens and the Coalition that he had sold out his principles in approving the mine.

"Look, that is an old song," he said.

"I approve a lot of decisions right around Australia and Australians can be confident that when Peter Garrett is the environment minister he will make sure that the environmental standards are the highest that they can be and that they need to be."

Meanwhile, nuclear advocates have used the booming uranium industry to call for a domestic nuclear power industry.

The number of Australian uranium mines will rise from three to five next year but none of the yellowcake will be used to generate electricity here.

Clarence Hardy, the secretary of the Australian Nuclear Association, said it was time to use the uranium domestically.

"We consider it's really ironic that the present government is very happy to export uranium to overseas countries for nuclear power but it just won't consider it in Australia," Dr Hardy said.

"It's what I call hypocritical."

Ian Duncan, the former chief of the world's pro-nuclear association, which is now called the World Nuclear Association, echoed the support for nuclear power.

He said it would cost $6 billion to $8 billion and take a decade to build a nuclear power station here.

It would create 600 ongoing jobs, last for 40 years, and generate clean electricity with virtually no greenhouse gas emissions, Dr Duncan said.

"It's time that we moved along from the caveman attitude of just picking it up and burning things. We should move to a higher order of source of energy," he said.