Jabiluka update - MARCH-MAY 2001 JABILUKA MAIN PAGE | NEWS

In March 2001 the majority (68%) shareholder of ERA, Rio Tinto, announced it would not mine Jabiluka in the short-term. In response to Rio’s announcement, the Senate (29/3/01) passed a motion from Vic. Democrat Lyn Allison calling on the Government to commence discussions with Rio with a view to an early rehabilitation of the site and for it to be handed back to the traditional owners as soon as possible. Friends of the Earth, the Environment Centre of the NT and the ACF launched the Rio Tinto ‘Time To Choose’ postcard campaign in early March. On 30 March FoE coordinated an action outside Rio’s Melbourne office and presented a big stack of signed cards to the company. Mirrar have learned that the so-called interim water management pond (IWMP) at Jabiluka is very close to maximum operating capacity and that ERA have begun pumping contaminated water from the IWMP into the mine decline. Mirrar raised concerns that this is causing further contamination of mine water. On 5 April, the Supervising Scientist, Arthur Johnston, agreed that he could not make assurances that there would be no water management problems at Jabiluka in the future. In London on April 12, Jacqui Katona joined FoE England, Wales & Northern Ireland in protest and addressed the AGM from the floor. UK Rio spokespeople reiterated that it would not develop the mine in the short term (‘ten years’) and that “development of Jabiluka would not take place without the consent of the traditional owners” (spokesman Andrew Vickerman on BBC Radio 4, 12 April). Mirrar criticised Rio for missing “an opportunity to protect the World Heritage values of Kakadu and the cultural integrity of the Mirrar people” by giving long term certainty to the Mirrar. On April 27, Jacqui Katona, Mirrar Senior Traditional Owner Yvonne Margarula and 100 environmentalists protested at the Australian AGM of Rio in Sydney (with a WA synchronised action at Rio’s Central Park office). Rio said again that the mine would not be developed in the short-term and not without traditional owners’ consent. Although Rio’s recent comments are the strongest indications yet from the mine owner that Jabiluka is on the backburner, there is no serious moratorium in place. It should be noted that: 1) There is actually nothing new in Rio’s statements. Two years ago, ERA said they wouldn’t be developing Jabiluka while Ranger was in full production. 2) ERA is still maintaining that it will develop Jabiluka. 3) ERA is currently trying to significantly extend the Ranger mine lease, excluding key Mirrar representatives from these discussions. With the federal election looming, the coming months will be a test of the political will of politicians of all persuasions to stop the national embarrassment that is the Jabiluka mine. See http://www.mirrar.net

the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia email admin@anawa.org.au