The decision by Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris-Kneebone to speak out against the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine within the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory has added to the growing community opposition to the mine. The extent of this sentiment was demonstrated on April 5, when more than 10,000 people rallied in every capital city as well as Alice Springs, Byron Bay and Wagga Wagga to show their anger and disgust at the Howard government's and Energy Resources Australia's disregard for the environment and the rights of the Mirrar Aboriginal people.
The national day of action was a great success; church groups, Aboriginal groups, environmental organisations, socialist organisations, student groups and health organisations supported and helped to organise the action.
Speakers around the country included Greens Senator Bob Brown, film maker David Bradbury, and Jacqui Katona, executive director the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation.
At the 5000-strong Sydney rally, the Jabiluka Action Group raised over $3700 for the campaign. In Brisbane, a band night attracted more than 1000 people and raised substantial funds for the campaign.
In Canberra, more that 150 people attended an anti-Jabiluka rally at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy outside Parliament House. Speakers included Kevin Buzzacott from the Roxby Downs area, WA Greens Senator Dee Margetts, Anna Reynolds from the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and Wadjularbinna from the Gungalidda people of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The ACT Jabiluka Action Group is organising an anti-Jabiluka "die-in" and rally at Parliament House on May 16 at 12.30pm. Contact Kim on 6247 2424.
In Adelaide, a rally at Rymill Park attracted 400 people after it marched from Parliament House. Speakers included Tim Doyle from the Conservation Council and David Noonon from the ACF. Noonon called not just for a halt to Jabiluka but for an end of the entire uranium industry. Other activists drew attention to Australia's export of uranium to Indonesia.
On April 8, Bob Brown introduced a motion in the Senate noting the large rallies in support of the Mirrar people and against the mining of uranium at Jabiluka and calling on current and future Australian governments to ban the export of uranium from the Jabiluka mine. The motion was defeated by the combined votes of the Labor and Coalition senators.
Tim Walters, an activist in the Brisbane Jabiluka Action Group and a member of the socialist youth group Resistance, told Green Left Weekly, "It is now clear where the ALP stand on Jabiluka. They are prepared to completely disregard the rights of the Mirrar people by refusing to commit themselves to oppose the building of the mine. Labor's policy of 'no new mines' is utterly farcical.
"To win the campaign, we need to shed any illusions in the Labor Party as a potential saviour. We have to build greater mass support amongst the community and build on the successful actions on April 5."
Ideas about future events and actions are being discussed in Jabiluka action groups around the country. Suggestions include pickets to mark the beginning of mining, rumoured to be in late May, regular fundraisers for the campaign, street theatre to inform the public about the issue, and using David Bradbury's documentary Jabiluka to network in the community.
On April 9, Jacqui Katona announced that the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation had instructed the Northern Land Council to take legal action to prevent ERA beginning construction of the Jabiluka mine before discussions with the NLC have been completed.