Mirarr Traditional Owners meet with NT Chief Minister over proposed Jabiluka mine extension

Territorians are fighting to expand Kakadu National Park to stop another radiactive scar from being carved into Country.

Mirarr Traditional Owners Yvonne Margarula met with the NT Chief Minister and Mining Minister on Friday, April 19, over the proposed Jabiluka mine lease extension. Picture: Zizi Averill

Traditional Owners are fighting to stop another radioactive scar from forming near Kakadu National Park by calling for the Jabiluka lease extension to be denied.

Sitting under the shadow of the Territory Parliament, Senior Mirarr Traditional Owner Yvonne Margarula stated: “I am here fighting for Jabiluka, my Country”.

Ms Margarula alongside her nephew Corben Mudjandi met with Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Mining Minister Mark Monaghan on Friday in a battle to block a 10-year proposed extension to uranium mining near Kakadu.

In March, Rio Tinto subsidiary Energy Resources of Australia made a bid to renew its mineral lease on Jabiluka.

Mirarr Traditional Owners Yvonne Margarula and Corben Mudjandi met with the NT Chief Minister and Mining Minister on Friday, April 19, over the proposed Jabiluka mine lease extension.

This is despite a moratorium against mining at the site without approval of the Mirrar people.

This is not the first time Ms Margarula has fought the Jabiluka mine, having ignited a 5000 person-strong, eight-month blockade 26 years ago.

The Mirrar woman was one of 530 people who were arrested fighting against the mine in 1998, and she vowed to continue that fight today.

“I said ‘no mining’ … enough is enough,” Ms Margarula said.

Senior Mirarr Traditional Owner Yvonne Margarula and Jacqui Katona were among more than 5000 people who worked to block the Jabiluka mine, owned by Energy Resources of Australia in 1998.

Her nephew, Mr Mudjandi said the meeting with Territory leaders was surprisingly positive, and they left parliament “relieved”.

“The government said that there’s no decisions, but they’ve listened to us and they’re in full support of the Mirarr people on what we’re fighting for,” Mr Mudjandi said.

“(We thought) they were going to agree for mining and there was going to be a big fight ahead of us, especially for our old people.

“They’ve only been listening to white fellas … the old people from the 70s up until today, we’ve been saying ‘No’ for years.”

In 1998 more than 5000 people including Peter Garrett joined with Mirarr Traditional Owners to block the Jabiluka mine, owned by Energy Resources of Australia.

Mr Mudjandi said Jabiluka had profound cultural significance to his people, like the pyramids of Egypt, or Notre Dame in Europe.

Since no formal decision has been made, Mr Mudjandi said the lease was “ still 50-50”.

“It’s still government … they’ll have one ear open and the other shut,” he said.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler confirmed she and Mr Monaghan met with the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation and Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation Jabiru Town representatives on Friday.

“The government communicated our position to follow the process under the Mineral Titles Act to support the future of the region and express our support of the Mirrar people,” Ms Lawler said.

Mirarr Traditional Owner Corben Mudjandi met with the NT Chief Minister and Mining Minister on Friday, April 19, over the proposed Jabiluka mine lease extension. Picture: Zizi Averill

“The Territory government expects to make a decision on the lease application in due course.”

The Mirarr representatives said their ultimate goal was for Jabiluka to be reintegrated into Kakadu National Park.

However in the interim they have appealed for similar protections at Nitmiluk, which is a mining-free area.

Mr Mudjandi said there were some assurances that a decision would be made before the August election.

However an ERA spokesman said it believed the renewal of the mineral lease was “the best way to protect Jabiluka’s cultural heritage”.

Mining operations at ERA's Ranger Uranium Mine, including rehabilitation and revegetation at Jabiluka. Picture: ERA

“ERA has protected the cultural heritage at Jabiluka for almost two decades under a long-term agreement with the Mirarr Traditional Owners that also includes a veto right over any future development,” he said.

“The agreement and veto right only remain in place if the lease is renewed.”

ERA is in the process of rehabilitating the nearby Ranger Mine site, which is forecast to cost up to $2.3bn.

Mr Mudjandi said the recent push to renew the Jabiluka lease — estimated to have $25bn of uranium oxide buried within it — “all comes down to money”.

“We’ve been saying for years once Ranger mine was gone they were going to need time and money to clean up that big hole that they’ve dug for a long time,” he said.

Originally published as Mirarr Traditional Owners meet with NT Chief Minister over proposed Jabiluka mine extension