Albo’s big announcement for mine site

The Prime Minister is committing to plans to incorporate a controversial uranium mine site to the world-heritage listed Kakadu National Park in line with the traditional owners of the land.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce on Saturday Jabiluka will be added to Kakadu National Park, after Northern Territory Government confirmed it would not renew the Jabiluka mineral lease on the advice of the federal government.

While the mineral site has never been mined, the mineral lease for the site will end on August 11.

It comes after decades of uncertainty about the project for the Mirarr traditional owners who wished to protect extensive rock art, shelters and paintings contained in Jabiluka, about 250m east of Darwin.

Those items discovered are recognised as among the longest historical records of any group of people on earth.

“I am proud to announce that our Government will be working with the traditional owners to make Jabiluka part of Kakadu National Park, once and for all,” Mr Albanese will say at the NSW Labor State Conference.

“This means there will never be mining at Jabiluka.

“The Mirrar people have loved and cared for their land for more than 60,000 years.

“Our Government will work with them to keep it safe for all time.”

Energy Resources Australia has held the mining license since 1991 for the site that is surrounded by but previously not included in Kakadu National Park.

Mr Albanese will explain how he’d worked with Indigenous Affairs minister Linda Burney and Environment minister Tanya Plibersek to discuss with leaders and representatives of the Mirrar people over the past 18 months about securing the site.

“They were seeking a guarantee that there would never be uranium mining on their land,” Mr Albanese says.

“When Yvonne Margarula, the senior traditional owner of Mirrar country, wrote to me, she spoke of the chance ‘to finally be free of the threat of further uranium mining at Kakadu’.

“This beautiful part of Australia is home to some of the oldest rock art in the world.

“And it was here, in 2017, that archaeologists discovered axes and sharpening tools dating back tens of thousands of years.

“Proof of the extraordinary and enduring connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have had with our land.

“A reminder of the extraordinary privilege all of us have, to share this continent with the world’s oldest continuous culture.”

Mr Albanese says it’s been a long journey for the government and the Mirrar people to secure Jabiluka.

“In 1991, despite pressure even from within his own Cabinet, Bob Hawke acted to stop uranium mining in Kakadu National Park,” he says.

“In 2013, the Gillard Government, acting on the express wishes of traditional owner Jeffrey Lee from the Djok clan, legislated to protect his people’s land by adding Koongarra to the national park.

“I remember Bob Hawke and Jeffrey Lee sitting together in the parliament the day that law passed.”

Meanwhile, an ERA spokesman said the decision not to renew the $90m mining lease posed further risk to the Mirarr people’s interests.

“(The decision) is disappointing and increases the potential for the site to be developed without the consent of the Mirarr traditional owners,” he said.

“Under ERA’s lease arrangements, Jabiluka cannot be developed without the consent of the Mirarr traditional owners.

“That development veto lapses once the lease expires. Without ERA’s lease arrangements in place, the potential development of the site will be in the hands of future governments.”

Mr Albanese will also take the opportunity on Saturday to thank Ms Burney’s dedication in securing the site, after she announced this week she’ll not be contesting her seat at next year’s federal election.

“I want to acknowledge a person who has put her heart and soul into turning those words of respect into acts of national progress,” he says.

“A trailblazer. An inspiration. A powerful advocate for First Nations people.

“A person of wonderful warmth and great strength, who has met every challenge with courage and grace.

“And a dear friend who all of us wish every happiness in the future: Linda Burney.

“Linda’s approach has been defined by respect, listening and co-operation.

“Doing things with communities, not to them.

“And today, there is a fitting final chapter in that story.”