Back in the mid 80's, I was tasked with putting forward the idea of mining and refining rare earths, as part of employment development and introducing new industries into Australia.
I came up against the fear of thorium and a total brick wall.
No industry body or government body would touch the subject.
In that process I found that the French were taking monazite from Australia, refining the rare earths and in the process obtaining some 32 tonnes of Uranium per year as a by-product.
In April 2008 I wrote to Kevin Rudd about the range of industries that would open up if we refined our own rare earths and sold Thorium to India while we researched Thorium as a power source. Minister Ferguson wrote back saying "Given Australia's large energy resources in both fossil fuels and renewables. Nuclear power, including power, is not an option the government is considering."
So, more power to you for raising the issue but your dealing with short term thinkers who only come out of the darkness when they are assured it is safe out there in the big wide world.