Although the Coalition government gave Energy Resources Australia (ERA) permission to go ahead with a uranium mine at Jabiluka in Kakadu last year, the majority of Australians oppose uranium mining, especially in Kakadu. Support for Aboriginal people's right to control what happens on their land is widespread.
Crucial to stopping the mine is the increasing participation of "average people off the streets", says JACQUI KATONA, spokesperson for the Mirrar people and executive officer of the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation. She spoke to Green Left Weekly's FRANCESCA DAVIS.
"There is a rising awareness of abuses of indigenous rights in Australia, and there's commitment being shown to tackle the government's actions. It's not always academics or people who have been involved in movements before who are stepping forward now. It's housewives and kids and older people as well who have real concerns about how we're going to resolve indigenous issues."
Katona and Yvonne Margarula, the traditional owner of Jabiluka, have been touring to promote and raise money for the campaign and the blockade of the mine, which will start on March 22.
So far, tour meetings have received a lot of support, 300 attending in Brisbane, 400 in Lismore and 100 in Newcastle. "It's been fantastic. The meetings were packed to the rafters. People are very concerned and want to hear what traditional owners' views are", Katona said.
There is support from overseas as well: a European Parliament resolution against the mine, and protests in Japan (one of ERA's potential customers) and in other countries. Friends of the Earth is helping the Mirrar people to gather international support.
"We did go to the World Heritage Commission to seek to have Kakadu listed as 'world heritage in danger', but the federal government got in there and said, 'Everything's all right, we've got processes in place', and the Federal Bureau of the World Heritage went against us. They said 'It's a lost cause'", Katona explained.
Further legal action, national days of protest and a blockade are planned. Morale in the Mirrar community is high and, Katona says, "They're not going to give up".
Recently, the Federal Court rejected the Mirrar people's claim that the mineral lease for Jabiluka, granted in 1982, was invalid. They argued that four acts of parliament reserve the title of uranium to the commonwealth and that therefore only the federal government had the power to issue the mineral lease, not the Northern Territory government.
Katona said that the Mirrar are going to appeal to the full bench. "Any legal action we can take to drag out the process for the company and to give us more time to build awareness, is good."
The other main legal issue is the new environmental impact statement. The current EIS was based on milling for Jabiluka taking place at the nearby Ranger mine. However, in 1991, as part of the negotiations with ERA, the traditional owners were given the right to withhold their consent for milling at Ranger, and they have done that.
Katona pointed out, "The EIS presented the Ranger milling option as a fait accompli and completely disregarded the power the traditional owners had. Now the government will have to do a proper environmental assessment based on milling at Jabiluka."
The Mirrar are also in the process of registering sacred sites.
However, Katona is not relying on legalities. "It's quite likely the government will just seek to waive any restrictions on the mining activity. An agreement's being negotiated now, without traditional owners being present. Nothing's changed in 20 years on that score. The traditional owners cannot be part of the process, and yet they have an 'agreement' made on their behalf at the end of the day.
"That's why, for us, it is an issue of land rights. Why have a Land Rights Act if, at every turn, the rights of the Mirrar have been extinguished to benefit industry? And it's not the majority of Australians that benefit from mining. It's a private company that makes the profits."
ERA's determination is part of a broader push by mining companies, with the support of the Coalition, to develop the uranium industry. Katona sees Jabiluka as a test case.
"If they can get a uranium mine going, without any public debate, where the traditional owners are opposed and the majority of Australians are opposed, they're going to go for the other 26 mines on the list. It's madness.
"Australia will become a toxic waste dump. Other countries are not going to take our waste and keep it for hundreds of years. In fact, it looks as though the waste from Lucas Heights is going to be buried in the Woomera. Also, if Australia sells uranium, there's no guarantee that it won't hit the military cycle before it becomes waste."
The ALP has recently softened its stance on uranium mining, moving from a three mines policy to a position of no "new" mines. While the ALP voted against Jabiluka in the Senate, it has made no commitment to stop Jabiluka should it win government at the next election, and it is unclear whether Jabiluka would be considered a "new" mine.
The National Union of Students, the Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth, church groups, health professionals, Resistance and the Student Environment Network are some of those now involved in the fight to save Kakadu. "Although unions do not take an up-front role, they're also being kept informed", Katona said.
A broad campaign is being planned by the Jabiluka Coalition, a network of action groups in each city. A national day of action is scheduled for April 5.
The blockade has attracted great interest. "We want it to be an effective, positive blockade. It's going to take a lot of organising. There will also be actions in all cities for people who can't get to the blockade", Katona said.
The extent to which it becomes a mass campaign depends on the ability and will of the action groups to involve as many people as possible. "This is something that everybody can contribute to. Everybody can make a change to what's happening in this country. This government has made a wholesale attack on the rights of people.
"There are a lot of issues to galvanise around: workers' rights, indigenous rights and environment issues. These are all reflected in the struggle of the Mirrar people. The Australian government is not open to talking about those matters with the people they most directly affect, and it calls into question their ability to govern.
"People are going to have to take responsibility into their own hands. We can't leave it in the hands of politicians and petty bureaucrats. All power and strength to the people. I reckon we'll do it. Absolutely!"