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Uranium exploration in Aboriginal-owned
West Arnhem Land has increased dramatically since 1995. There are now
dozens of Exploration Leases in this area, major players including PNC
(Japanese) Cameco (Canadian) and
Afmeco (a subsidiary of the French Cogema). Traditional owners have vetoed
16 applications, under the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976. But
each veto only lasts for 5 years after which mining companies can reapply.
Traditional owners are required to consider any new exploration proposal
within a year, failure to do so being deemed consent. These owners often
complain about being subjected to ‘too much humbug’. And under
the NT Land Rights Act consent to exploration automatically infers consent
to mining development. Not enough information on the environmental implications of uranium exploration and mining is getting through to traditional owners. Environmental organisations
are entirely excluded from the EL negotiation process, leaving only
the companies themselves and the cash and staff-strapped Northern Land
Council (NLC) as major informants on ecological issues. The NLC, acting
on the behalf of traditional owners in negotiations with mining companies,
intends to represent the best interests of the landowners but on the
other hand is heavily reliant on mining royalties to run its activities. (excerpts from the Uranium
Research Group’s excellent website) |
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the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western
Australia
email admin@anawa.org.au |
