Uranium: Tell the truth Minister Macfarlane ! Only the NT Mines Minister can authorise any new uranium mines in NT.

The Environment Centre of the Northern Territory (ECNT) says Federal Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane is not being truthful when he claims that the NT government has been sidelined on uranium mining in the NT.

“Unfortunately he has never been challenged on this matter in his many interviews on the subject.

“In order for any new mine of any kind to operate in the NT, it requires a mine lease, a mine operation license, and a mine regulation framework.

“Under current NT and Commonwealth law, ONLY the NT Mines Minister can grant mine leases and issue mine operation licenses in the NT, for uranium or any other mineral. Only NT law provides the necessary regulatory framework for any new mines in the NT.

“By continuing to mislead the public on this issue, Mr MacFarlane is actually hurting the very industry sector he claims to be encouraging.

“Would-be uranium miners may actually believe the Federal Minister’s untruthful statements and may get a rude shock when they learn that he cannot in fact authorise their proposed new mines.

“As one legal opinion provided to ECNT notes: ‘Whilst to my knowledge the provisions of the Mining Management Act2001 (NT) and the Mining Act (NT) discussed above have never been tested in court, it is likely that they do give the Commonwealth an effective power of veto over any proposals for new uranium mines. What is more doubtful is whether the Commonwealth Minister could use them to compel the Territory Minister to grant all licenses and authorisations for a new mine.’

“With the NT government bound by its policy and election promises not to approve new uranium mines in the NT, the Federal government has only two options – introduce over-riding legislation in Federal parliament or take the NTG to court to try to force it to sign the necessary authorisations.

“Clearly the Federal government is reluctant to do either, for political reasons, and is instead trying to bluff its way through the issue in the hope that the NT government will eventually authorise any proposed new mines.

“We intend to do everything we can to make sure this does not happen.”

For more information and comment:

Peter Robertson
Campaign Coordinator ECNT
8981 1984