Mirarr welcome NLC endorsement of Jabiluka agreement

22 APRIL 2004

The traditional Aboriginal owners of the site of the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine, the Mirarr People, today welcomed the decision by the Full Council of the Northern Land Council to ratify the Jabiluka Long-Term Care and Maintenance Agreement between the Mirarr, Energy Resources of Australia and the NLC.

Under the agreement, which has been negotiated over the past 18 months, ERA pledges to not carry out any mining activity on the Jabiluka Mineral Lease without the written consent of the Mirarr traditional owners. The agreement also provides for the backfilling of the Jabiluka mine decline (these works were completed in late 2003) and the waiver of certain financial obligations on the Rio Tinto-controlled ERA.

Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation was instrumental in securing the landmark agreement. The Corporation initially proposed the contract following the September 2002 commitment by the then chairperson of Rio Tinto, Sir Robert Wilson, that there would be no mining at Jabiluka without the consent of the Mirarr. Gundjeihmi's executive officer, Mr Andy Ralph, today greeted the NLC's endorsement of the new agreement as an important step in what has been a long process.

"We heartily welcome the NLC's ratification of the agreement. While it has taken many months for the NLC to finally arrive at this point, we are happy that there is now Aboriginal consensus on giving Mirarr traditional owners true control over their destiny in relation to uranium mining.

"This agreement will see the Mirarr People in the driving seat for the first time in thirty years of mining activity on their country. Once the agreement is executed the decision as to whether or not the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine goes ahead is entirely in the hands of the traditional owners," Mr Ralph said.

In accordance with the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, the Jabiluka Long-Term Care and Maintenance Agreement must now be approved by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone, prior to it coming into force.

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