| jabiluka campaign news |
| Mine company falls foul of traditional owners 24 April 2009 - The relationship between mining company ERA and traditional owners of the Ranger uranium mine site has showed signs of serious deterioration. Senior traditional owner Yvonne Margarula says the company was lying about the timetable for the planned expansion at Ranger. |
ERA quietly applies for Ranger plant expansion |
| Mirarr Consent to Jabiluka Not Forthcoming 23 May 2007 - Media Release - The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation issues the following written statement regarding media reports on the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine. |
| Ranger danger: Heavy rains pose radioactive risk to Kakadu 4 March 2007 - Australia’s largest National Park faces the threat of radioactive and heavy metal contamination from flooding at the controversial Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu. |
| Owners speak out about Kakadu's uranium 7 March 2006 - The Howard Government has used a native title claim to pressure Aboriginal owners to approve mining of the massive Jabiluka uranium deposit in Kakadu National Park, it was claimed yesterday. |
| Lives swamped by the
riches of uranium 14 July 2005 - Yvonne Margarula doesn't care that she is blocking development of Jabiluka, one of the world's biggest known deposits of uranium worth an estimated $10.5 billion as world prices soar. |
| Aborigines win veto on Kakadu uranium mining 25 February 2005 - Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia will be allowed to further explore the valuable Jabiluka lease in Kakadu, but traditional Aboriginal landowners have the right to veto any future mining. |
| 2004 |
| Ranger mine under threat 1 September 2004 - The Federal Government this week delivered an ultimatum to the operator of the Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu National Park to immediately fix a "culture of complacency" among its managers or be shut down. • Radioactive mud sticks in Top End |
| Call to prosecute uranium miner 20 May 2004 - Mining giant Energy Resources of Australia should be prosecuted after drinking water at its controversial Ranger mine became contaminated with uranium, a Northern Territory Government report has found. • Inquiry into leak at uranium mine finds more problems: minister |
| Referral of Ranger contamination incident to Northern Territory Department of Justice 19 May 2004 - Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Mirarr Traditional Aboriginal Owners of the Ranger uranium mine welcome the decision by the Northern Territory Minister for Mines and Energy to refer the March 2004 Ranger process water contamination incident to the Department of Justice for likely prosecution. |
| Uranium contamination spreads 26 March 2004 - Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Ranger uranium mine remains closed following the discovery overnight that some 150,000 litres of water contaminated with uranium levels estimated at 108 parts per billion (five times the Australian drinking water standard) spilled from the Jabiru East water supply off the mine site. This incident has exposed the surrounding environment, the drinking water of businesses based at Jabiru East and downstream Aboriginal communities to an unprecedented threat. |
| Aborigines get Jabiluka veto 22 April 2004 - Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation - Traditional Aboriginal owners signed off on a historic agreement ending their long struggle against the controversial Jabiluka uranium mine. The landmark deal gives the owners the right to veto the future development of the site in the heart of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. |
| Mirrar welcome NLC endorsement of Jabiluka agreement 22 April 2004 - Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation - The traditional Aboriginal owners of the site of the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine, the Mirrar People, today welcomed the decision by the Full Council of the Northern Land Council to ratify the Jabiluka Long-Term Care and Maintenance Agreement between the Mirrar, Energy Resources of Australia and the NLC. |
| Rio’s uranium contamination
scare grows as indigenous group calls for regulatory overhaul 14 April 2004 - Ethical Corporation World News - The uranium contamination scare at Rio Tinto subsidiary Energy Resources Australia has intensified following allegations of more contaminations at the company’s Ranger uranium oxide mine in northern Australia. |
| Agreement between Rio Tinto subsidiary
and traditional owners over uranium mine 7 April 2004 - Ethical Corporation Asia News - Energy Resources Australia reaches agreement with land owners regarding the controversial Jabiluka mine in the country. |
| Uranium drinkers say mine cut them
loose 5 April 2004 - Australia's biggest uranium miner has gone into damage control 12 days after workers drank large quantities of water containing 400 times the legal limit of uranium following a leak at the Ranger mine in Kakadu National Park. Three of the men say they have been suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy and were forced to pay their own way to leave the Northern Territory to seek medical treatment in their home state. |
| Fencing Off Kakadu 29 March 2004 - Time Pacific - A swimming ban at a popular spot sets off fears of a park lock-up and divides tour operators and owners. |
| Uranium contamination spreads 26 March 2004 - Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Ranger uranium mine remains closed following the discovery overnight that some 150,000 litres of water contaminated with uranium levels estimated at 108 parts per billion (five times the Australian drinking water standard) spilled from the Jabiru East water supply off the mine site. This incident has exposed the surrounding environment, the drinking water of businesses based at Jabiru East and downstream Aboriginal communities to an unprecedented threat. |
| Uranium mine in Australian national
park is closed after uranium is detected in water supply 25 March 2004 - Associated Press - A uranium mine in the middle of a pristine heritage-listed national park in northern Australia was temporarily shut down Wednesday after tests revealed increased levels of uranium in its water supply, the mine's operator announced. ERA closed the Ranger mine in Kakadu National Park after the higher-than-usual levels were found late Tuesday in water used by mine staff for drinking and showering. |
| 2003 |
| Mirrar welcome Senate report, call for discussion of recommendations 15 October 2003 - Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Traditional Owners of the Jabiluka and Ranger uranium mine areas in Kakadu National Park, the Mirrar People, today welcomed the Senate inquiry report into the environmental regulation of uranium mining, claiming it vindicates long-held concerns. The report was tabled in the Senate last night. |
| Mining companies vow not to mine in world heritage areas 21 August 2003 - In an environmental coup, 15 of the world's biggest mining companies have vowed not to mine in world heritage areas .. such as the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu. While the pledge has been welcomed by most conservationists, some are still sceptical. |
| Landmark 'no-go' pledge from leading mining companies 20 August 2003 - International Council on Mining and Metals - Corporate membership of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) - comprised of 15 of the world's largest mining and metal producing companies – has signed an undertaking to recognise existing World Heritage properties as 'no-go' areas. |
| NT okays Jabiluka clean-up 1 August 2003 - The Northern Territory government has given the go-ahead for a clean- up of the controversial Jabiluka uranium mine, ending a long row which pitted conservation groups and Aboriginal people against mining company ERA. |
| Black veto on buried Jabiluka 9 July 2003 - Rio Tinto has decided to bury its controversial Jabiluka uranium mine and also plans to sign an agreement to give the traditional owners an unprecedented right to veto any future development at the site. |
| Kakadu Traditional Owners call for Rio action on Jabiluka 29 April 2003 - Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Traditional Owners of the Jabiluka uranium mine area in Kakadu National Park, the Mirrar People, today reiterated their call on mining giant Rio Tinto to give legal effect to commitments by chairperson Sir Robert Wilson that Jabiluka would not be developed without Mirrar consent. The call follows reports today that Rio subsidiary Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) will not be drawn into signing any contract enforcing Aboriginal authority over Jabiluka. |
| Rio vowes to seek approval 19 April 2003 - Global mining group Rio Tinto plc has confirmed it won't proceed with the Jabiluka uranium mine without the consent of the region's traditional land owners. |
| Kakadu traditional owners call for Rio action on controversial mine 17 April 2003 - Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Traditional Owners of the Jabiluka uranium mine area in Kakadu National Park, the Mirrar People, today called on mining giant Rio Tinto to give legal effect to commitments by chairperson Sir Robert Wilson that Jabiluka would not be developed without their consent. |
| World Heritage Committee Rejects Australian Push To Water Down Heritage Protections 23 March 2003 - "I welcome the rejection by the World Heritage Committee of a push by the Australian Government to diminish the protection of World Heritage listed sites. |
| Britain backs plans to weaken heritage sites 13 March 2003 - The Guardian (UK) - Plans supported by the British government would undermine protection for world heritage sites such as Stonehenge and the Giant's Causeway, according to the organisation that advises on their protection. |
| Veto plan for World Heritage sites fuels fears of development 10 March 2003 - Large scale development could proceed unchecked in Australia's World Heritage sites, including the Kakadu National Park and the Blue Mountains, under changes to guidelines proposed by the Federal Government. |
| 2002 |
| Uranium leak near Kakadu 6 March 2002 - A URANIUM leak at the Ranger Mine – which sent water contamination levels soaring to unprecedented levels – has prompted calls for a review of mine operator ERA. |
| Mirrar call for agreement on Jabiluka 5 December 2002 - Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Traditional Owners of the site of the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine in Kakadu, the Mirrar People, have called on mining company Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) to enter into an agreement with the Northern Land Council to give legal effect to the company's commitment to not develop the Jabiluka project without the full consent of Traditional Owners. |
| Jabiluka Mine halted? 5 December 2002 -The Mirrar People of Kakadu National Park are demanding written confirmation the Jabiluka Uranium Mine will not go ahead. |
| Government lets ERA off the hook for Kakadu leak 26 September 2002 - Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Traditional Owners of the Ranger uranium mine, the Mirrar People, today expressed their profound disappointment that the Commonwealth Government has again refused to sanction Kakadu uranium miner ERA for environmental mismanagement. |
| Aborigines halt Rio Tinto project 15 September 2002 - Mining giant Rio Tinto has indicated it is about to abandon plans to develop a giant uranium mine in northern Australia in the teeth of opposition from the local Aboriginal people. |
| Troubled Rio Tinto must rehabilitate Jabiluka 4 September 2002 - Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Senior Traditional Owner of the Mirrar People of Kakadu National Park, Yvonne Margarula, today reaffirmed her opposition to the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine, following the release of a transcript of interview on BBC World (Hard Talk) with Rio Tinto Chairman, Sir Robert Wilson. |
| The business of caring 27 August 2002 - BBC - The boss of one of the world's biggest mining companies has denied that big business is the enemy of the environment. Robert Wilson, chairman of the multi-national mining company, Rio Tinto, said that everyone must work together to protect the planet. |
| Transcript: Interview with Sir Robert Wilson 27 August 2002 - BBC WORLD: HARDtalk with Tim Sebastian |
| Aborigine rights damaged by mining verdict 9 August 2002 - The Guardian (UK) - The Australian high court dealt a severe blow to the Aboriginal land rights movement yesterday when it rejected claims by the Miriuwung-Gajerrong people to a 3,050sq mile area of land in the country's remote north-west. |
| Mirrar welcome uranium inquiry 20 June 2002 - Media Release - The Mirrar People, Traditional Owners of land subject to the Ranger and Jabiluka uranium operations in Kakadu, today welcomed the successful motion of the Senate for an inquiry into environmental monitoring and reporting in the Australian uranium industry. Both Ranger and Jabiluka have this year been plagued by persistent environmental management problems and will be investigated by the Senate environment committee. |
| Traditional owners concerned at depth of Govt mine review 5 June 2002 - The traditional owners of the Jabiluka and Ranger uranium mine sites surrounded by Kakadu National Park say a Northern Territory Government review of the mining operations will not go far enough. |
| Warning on Ranger mine leak 24 April 2002 - Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) has been warned it will be barred from allowing flow-off from its Ranger uranium ore stockpile into Kakadu National Park if it fails to source a new contamination leak. |
| Greens back Senate enquiry into Ranger and Jabiluka 19 April 2002 - Senator Bob Brown -Following revelations by ex ERA scientist turned whistleblower, Geoffrey Kyle that there have been serious deficiencies in the operation of the Ranger Uranium mine in Kakadu..(World Heritage Area), Greens Senator Bob Brown said today. |
| Greens back investigation 19 April 2002 -Following claims of serious deficiencies in the operation of the Ranger Uranium mine in Kakadu, Greens Senator Bob Brown said today he would support a Senate inquiry. |
| Claims of environmental breaches threaten Ranger mine 18 April 2002 - The mining of uranium adjacent to Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory has vexed governments and environmentalists for decades. |
| Rio Under Pressure 18 April 2002 - Rio Tinto executives will be challenged to make a commitment to ending uranium mining in Kakadu at the company's annual meeting in Melbourne. |
| The Mirrar People still say no to Jabiluka mine! 11 April 2002 - Statement by Ms Yvonne Margarula - Senior Traditional Owner of the Mirrar People of Kakadu. Rio Tinto Annual General Meeting - London, UK. The Mirrar People still say no to Jabiluka mine! All the Mirrar are together; we are united against any more uranium mining on Mirrar country. No amount of money, no amount of political pressure, no backroom deals, no bribery or blackmail will make us change our mind. We cannot change the law and the law is that we protect our sacred sites. |
| Uranium leak near Kakadu 6 March 2002 - A uranium leak at the Ranger Mine – which sent water contamination levels soaring to unprecedented levels – has prompted calls for a review of mine operator ERA. |
| 2001-1998 |
| Mirrar vow to end Jabiluka despite Howard's return 17 November 2001- Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Traditional Owners of the Jabiluka uranium mine area, the Mirrar People, today reaffirmed their opposition to the controversial mine despite the re-election of the pro-uranium Howard Government. The call came following an inspection of Jabiluka by representatives of the Mirrar and the environment movement to examine a controversial new water management system. |
| Storm clouds gather for Kakadu uranium miner 30 October 2001 - The Mirrar people, the traditional owners of the area which includes the Jabiluka uranium project in Kakadu, have today joined with key environment groups in a call to halt company plans for the disposal of contaminated water at the controversial mine site. |
| Few set out on road to ethics 14 April 2001 - The Guardian (UK) - Despite activists' clamour, key pension funds have yet to move towards socially responsible investment. Tony Levene reports. |
| No half measures at Jabiluka:Traditional Owners 26 March 2001- Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Mirrar people of Kakadu today called on Rio Tinto to commit to the closure of the Jabiluka uranium mine project and return the Jabiluka mineral lease to its traditional owners. |
| Rio's mining rhetoric to fall on deaf ears 14 March 2001- Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation - The Mirrar people of Kakadu today roundly condemned comments by Rio Tinto CEO Leigh Clifford that the company may develop the controversial Jabiluka uranium mine. Spokesperson for the Mirrar, Jacqui Katona, said the company has demonstrated a poor understanding of its legal obligations to the Traditional Owners and will receive a poor response from the international community. |
| Gift of life 14 February 2001- The Guardian (UK) - The world's largest mining company has been given a chance to prove its green credentials and save Aboriginal homelands. |
| A nuclear fall out 21 July 1999 - The Guardian (UK) - Australia threw a million dollars, its top civil servants and foreign embassies round the world into a campaign to prevent Kakadu national park - the backdrop to the film Crocodile Dundee - being declared "in danger" by UNESCO last week. |
| World Heritage Committee's grave concern leads to 18 month suspension at Jabiluka 13 July 1999 - Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation - The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has found that the Jabiluka uranium mine poses serious negative impact to the values of Kakadu National Park |
| Don't poison us, plead Aborigines 21 February 1999 - Guardian Unlimited (UK) - Revealed - a plan to ship waste to Australia that spells danger to humans and wildlife. |
| Nature rates second to uranium mine 26 November 1998 - The Guardian (UK) - Australia sticks with extraction plan despite World Heritage fears for a national park. |
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