A new uranium mine in South Australia has been given the go ahead this week by the Environment minister Peter Garret.

This decision ends decades of ALP opposition to uranium mining and could herald the widespread expansion of the industry in Australia.

Despite the support of two independent reviews of the new Four Mile mine proposal, critics say the mines leaching process could inflict great damage to the environment.

The Greens party are calling it a ‘deeply disappointing betrayal' of South Australia’s environment which will leave a toxic legacy for generations.

South Australian Greens MP Mark Parnell spoke with 2SER’s Alex Angel.