The decision to end the ban on uranium mining earlier this week followed the Barnett government's decision to allow GM cotton to be farmed in the state, angering conservationists - but apparently delighting the Liberal leader.

In South Perth to meet local businesses, Mr Turnbull labelled the previous government's stance on both issues as irrational and illogical.

"One was the ban on uranium mining which was irrational and illogical, the second one was the ban on GM crop - in particular GM wheat," Mr Turnbull said.

"GM wheat is a godsend because what it enables you to do is to dramatically reduce the amount of pesticides you need to put on your crop.

"So it has been an incredible benefit not just to Australia but to the whole world.

"The previous Labor government here had some ideological hang-ups about GM crops, and about uranium mining that was simply not rational."

Mr Turnbull said fears over the possibility of more nuclear power plants in Australia should be allayed by the fact that bipartisan support would be needed before that eventuated.

And he said the use of uranium in other parts of the world would help battle climate change.

"Whether we have nuclear power plants in Australia – that is never going to happen without bipartisan support.

"We recognise that," Mr Turnbull said.

"But we know around the world, countries are expanding nuclear power in a large measure in response to climate change because it offers a zero emission form of emitting electricity.

"So how can we be serious about combating climate change globally and saying we are not going to mine uranium in Australia when there is so much demand for it?

"It was just pure left wing ideology on both those issues, and that is why it is great to have a rational government here in WA which is committed to sensible economic management in the interests of WA and in the interests of the nation."