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 Li.