The battle lines have been drawn over uranium mining in Western Australia after the new state Labor leader Mark McGowan announced a backflip on the party's policy.

If elected, Mark McGowan says his government would overturn its blanket ban on uranium mining and hold an inquiry into the industry.

While the party would not shut down any uranium projects that have already been approved, it may stop any new uranium mines from going ahead.

The Australian Uranium Association says changes to the Labor party's uranium policy in Western Australia do not go far enough.

Chief Executive Michael Angwin says uranium should be treated like any other mining industry.

"Our view is that uranium companies should be able to explore for develop and mine uranium in accordance with the environmental requirements on merit, like any other resource industry," he said .

"A good uranium policy is one that assesses all uranium proposals on merit and in accordance to the environmental law. Any other policy is not good policy."

The Greens have labelled the changes to WA Labor's uranium policy as peculiar and inconsistent.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam says he is disappointed with the decision.

"Either you agree with this trade or you don't," he said.

"I think in the instance of uranium, it's very similar to the reason that we closed down asbestos mining and you can't really have a consistent view that says they're OK to run existing ones but we won't allow new ones.

"You've got to really decide I think."

Along with the changes to Labor's uranium policy, Mr McGowan announced he would launch an inquiry into the uranium industry.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, which does not support uranium mining, says it will not take WA Labor's policy backflip lying down.

Spokesman Steve McCartney says they will lobbying hard to change Labor's position.

"We're not going to sit quietly while that inquiry goes on and hope for an outcome," he said.

"We'll be lobbying hard, we'll be talking to all the people in and around Mark, I'll be continuing my conversations with Mark about the outcomes and trying to push the result that we should be getting which is no uranium mines in Western Australia."