Mining

Jabiluka June 2002

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. Since 1996, the Mirrar have fought against Jabiluka across Australia and overseas. We have won many friends and our supporters are strong and stand with us. We have travelled a long road. We have been to many meetings in many different places. We will continue to resist more mining on Mirrar country. We have no choice - this is our land and our life, we can never leave, we must protect it. Rio Tinto talks about "responsibly building long-term values" but right now its uranium operations in Kakadu directly threaten the future of Mirrar culture. Rio should immediately rehabilitate the Jabiluka mine site and incorporate the lease into Kakadu National Park. Future generations of the Mirrar and the preservation of the World Heritage values of Kakadu depend on action being taken now.

Yvonne Margarula Mirrar
Senior Traditional Owner Chairperson,
Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation
11th April 2002

August 2000

Rio Tinto acquired North Ltd and gained a 68.4% controlling share of the controversial Jabiluka uranium project in Kakadu. At Rio Tinto's 2001 AGM, Chairman Sir Robert Wilson announced that the company would postpone development of Jabiluka stating "We don't believe that Jabiluka can be developed without the consent of both the Northern Land Council and, through the Northern Land Council, the traditional owners of the area". Nearly two years after Rio Tinto's acquisition of Jabiluka the company is failing to hear or heed the wishes of the traditional owners. The Mirrar people are steadfastly opposed to development at Jabiluka. Rio Tinto seems content to sit on Jabiluka and ignore the views of the Mirrar and the broader community. Now is the time for Rio Tinto to put its words into action and to act to end any development of Jabiluka.

The background

Since the election of the Coalition Federal Government in 1996 the campaign to stop Jabiluka has been a significant issue in Australia and overseas. Thousands of people have worked with the Mirrar people and environment groups to halt the mine both in Kakadu during the 1998 blockade and through protests around Australia and the world. Jabiluka has been the subject of unprecedented World Heritage Committee scrutiny, a Senate Inquiry and resolutions of opposition, a European Parliament Resolution. In 1999 the Mirrar traditional owners won a Goldman Environment Award for their campaign against the mine. The efforts of all involved have been successful in stopping the development of the mine to date. In September 1999 construction of the Jabiluka was halted and since then the mine has been on 'environmental care and maintenance'. Despite the fact that the mine is not operating Jabiluka has already been plagued by water management problems.

Ongoing problems at Rio's Kakadu uranium mines

As well as owning Jabiluka, Rio Tinto is also the majority owner of the nearby Ranger Uranium mine in Kakadu. Since opening in 1982 over 110 environmental incidents have been documented at Ranger and recent continuing problems demonstrate serious deficiencies in environmental performance and management at Ranger mine. A tailings water return pipe leak went unreported for over 3 months in 2000. In early 2002 elevated levels of uranium in creeks flowing off site at Ranger and Jabiluka and into Kakadu National Park again went unreported for up to 6 weeks. Having owned these operations for over 18 months Rio Tinto can no longer claim to be incidentally involved in uranium mining in Kakadu. Rio Tinto is responsible for the recent environmental failures at Ranger and Jabiluka and Rio Tinto must now act.

Rio Tinto - Time to choose

Rio Tinto mines like Freeport, Panguna, Rossing and Rum Jungle have a history of dispossession and disempowerment of indigenous peoples and left behind major adverse environmental and social impacts. Recently Rio Tinto has invested much effort into remaking its image and trying to improve its community perception via projects like the Global Mining Initiative. Whether these initiatives lead to better relationships with traditional owners and better environmental performance remains to be seen. Jabiluka is now a key test of whether Rio Tinto's stated commitment to corporate social responsibility has any credibility.

In 2002 Rio Tinto must listen to the area's traditional owners, rehabilitate the Jabiluka site and act to end any development at Jabiluka once and for all.

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