home | news l

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.

The Resources Development Minister, Paul Henderson, is commissioning an independent technical review into the environmental regulations at both mine sites, operated by Energy Resources of Australia (ERA).

The Office of the Supervising Scientist released a report in April which said the internal management of ERA had failed, after seepage from an ore stockpile in February.

The Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation's Andy Ralph welcomes the Territory Government's response to public concerns, but he says it is not enough.

"We need a full and independent Senate inquiry," Mr Ralph said.

"You must also remember uranium is a nationally prescribed mineral and the Office of the Supervising Scientist is responsible for assessing the soundness of the science implored in the mine sites.

"Often they also test the results of the mining company and the NT Government so they should also be in the spotlight as well," Mr Ralph said.

Source: ABC News Online

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