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Greens Back Senate Inquiry Into Ranger and Jabiluka

19 April 2002 - Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown - Media Release - 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, Greens Senator Bob Brown said today he would support a Senate inquiry into the operation, management and compliance regimes at both the Ranger and Jabiluka mines in Kakadu World Heritage Area.

"The whole Ranger uranium mine is now under a cloud. The ERA scientist's views aired last night on the ABC's PM and 7.30 Report have a strong ring of truth," Senator Brown said.

"It's time a Senate inquiry got to hear the full story behind all the allegations of mismanagement, leaks, breaches of environmental requirements and consistent failure in the system of monitoring and reporting.

"Australians will not find it possible to have confidence in the safety of the uranium mine now that it has been revealed so many of the problems at Ranger and Jabiluka are never revealed publicly.

"The Mirrar people are increasingly alarmed at the apparent inability of both the government and the mining industry to ensure that Kakadu is protected."

"The Australian Government successfully avoided a World Heritage 'in danger' listing for Kakadu by arguing that the supervision and monitoring of uranium mines was beyond reproach.

"It promised that the Traditional Owners would be kept informed and consulted about what was happening on their land but instead they are subjected to increasing levels of pollution and kept in the dark about environmental incidents which affect their land.

"We now have a history of problems at Ranger and Jabiluka with a former Senior Technical Officer at ERA Environmental Services demolishing the government's defence that mining in World Heritage could and would be safe, Senator Brown said.

Media release from Senator Bob Brown.

Further information: jabiluka issues page - includes news index and external links