`World heritage in danger' campaign intensified

By Jim Green

Traditional owners and campaigners opposing the Jabiluka uranium mine in the Northern Territory are intensifying their push to have Kakadu National Park listed as “World heritage in danger” because of the mine's impact.

The seven-member World Heritage Bureau, meeting in Paris in the last week of June, decided to send a scientific panel to Kakadu. According to Jacqui Katona from the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation, which represents the Mirrar traditional owners, the scientific mission was necessary because the information provided by the Australian government is patently inadequate and demands proper scrutiny.

“The fact the Jabiluka mine has received `all necessary approvals' from the minister for the environment tells more about the cavalier attitude of Senator Robert Hill to uranium mining than the adequacy of environmental regulations at Jabiluka”, Katona said.

The scientific panel visited the NT in the first week of July. Its report will be considered by the full World Heritage Committee at its 24th session in Cairns from November 27 to December 2. It will be decided at that meeting whether Kakadu should be listed as world heritage in danger.

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