John Hallam Friends of the Earth Sydney, Suite 15, 1st Floor, 104 Bathurst Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000. Fax(61)(2)9283-2005 ph(61)(2)9283-2006. [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd Dear People, The following press releases were put out today April 15th, as the deadline for Australian Government comment on the World Heritage Committee report of December last year expired. The Government released its comments/rebuttal at a press conference in Sydney today. They are available in full at: www.environment.gov.au GOVT KAKADU REPORT DISHONEST SAYS F.O.E. Environment group Friends of the Earth has accused the Government of trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the World Heritage Committee with its recent report on Kakadu, and says that the report, like the government's previous submission contains numerous statements that are incorrect. According to FOE Sydney nuclear campaigner John Hallam, "The most obvious thing, which you don't have to be a genius to see, is that two and possibly three uranium mines in the middle of a World Heritage national park is a contradiction in terms. It really is that simple, and hundreds of pages of obfuscation do no more than hide the obvious, which is precisely the Governments intention." "Clearly it will take us a day or two to evaluate the full government report. However there are number of obvious inaccuracies that strike on reading the summary, especially with reference to the WHC's key recommendation, recommendation 1, that mining at Jabiluka not proceed." The Government claims that the report gives insufficient weight to three years of environmental assessment and more than 70 'binding requirements. In fact, what we have had has been three years of abuse of the spirit and intent of the EPIP legislation, in which proper and objective assessment has been conspicuous by its absence. The 'more than 70 environmental requirements' were drastically watered down in their journey from Senator Hills office to senator Parer's office, and are anything but binding. The nearby Ranger mine has not 'operated for 20 years with no environmental impact'. Reports by the Office of the Supervising Scientist, made in the days when that body enjoyed some independence of judgement and backbone, indicate that the Ranger mine is anything but impact- free. It is incorrect to claim as Hill does, that no calls for the placement of Kakadu on the 'in Danger' list have occurred with reference to Ranger. The very first expressions of concern over the impact of uranium mining on World Heritage values in the park occurred with reference to water-releases from Ranger. It is incorrect to claim that the placement of Kakadu on the 'in Danger' list is inconsistent with the treatment of other World Heritage properties. In the case of the Yellowstone National Park, the 'in Danger' listing occurred in view of projected mining operations that were to be 2.5Km outside the external boundaries of the park. Whatever nonsense the government utters about the mining lease not being 'in' the park, there are three uranium mining leases within the external boundaries of the park directly adjacent to the most sensitive and valuable areas of the park. The Thai delegate at the last WHC meeting indicated that it is not as Senator Hill claims, the state party that determines the protection regime for WH properties within its jurisdiction, except within the parameters determined by the WH convention as a whole. It is entirely possible for the WH committee to place a property in the 'In Danger' list without the consent of the state concerned, as was done in the case of Dubrovnik. There are many other errors of fact and interpretation in the report too tedious to mention. We appeal to the good sense of the committee, to place Kakadu on the 'in Danger' list, unless of course the Government reconsiders its absurd determination to mine uranium where uranium should not be mined, and stops Jabiluka." Contact: John Hallam, 02-9283-2006, 02-9351-7320, h02-9810-2598 AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION 14/4/99 MINISTER DIGS HIMSELF BIGGER HOLE ON KAKADU URANIUM PLAN Thursday 15 April is the date the Australian Government is required to provide its final report on the environmental and cultural impacts of the controversial Jabiluka uranium proposal in Kakadu National Park to the UN's World heritage Committee. In response to this, ACF has renewed the call for the environment minister senator Hill, the Commonwealth Government, and mining company Energy Resources of Australia to immediately cease work on the Jabiluka site. The continued failure of these parties to do this has been in direct and deliberate defiance of a specific World Heritage Committee resolution, passed in December 1998. "The continuation of work at Jabiluka is against the wishes of the majority of the Australian community, the regions Traditional Aboriginal owners, and the advice of the worlds foremost cultural and natural heritage management body." Stated ACF uranium campaigner, Dave Sweeney. "Today, Senator Hill has an opportunity to show that the Australian Government takes its international and domestic responsibilities seriously. Sadly, it seems that again, partyline will take precedence over national interest." "The Jabiluka proposal is attracting growing attention and concern and it is increasingly evident that the project is poorly considered, poorly executed, and in real trouble. Senator Hill must act to protect the World Heritage values of Australia's largest national park - not be an apologist for their destruction. " "The campaign to protect the country and future of Kakadu , for the benefit of the Australian and global community will continue to grow." For further information, contact Dave Sweeney on 0408-317-812 or (03)9926-6708. ACF MEDIA RELEASE 15/4/99 TOO LITTLE - TOO LATE ACF has rejected claims by Commonwealth environment minister Senator Robert Hill over the impacts of the proposed Jabiluka uranium mIne in World heritage listed Kakadu National Park. Todays government report was in response to a requirement from the united nations World heritage Committee that Australia submit further detail on the cultural and environmental impacts of the controversial development. ACF will join with other environment groups to develop a detailed response to the Australian Governments report. ACF described the Governments position as limited and fundamentally flawed. According to ACF anti-uranium campaigner Dave Sweeney, "This report fails to address the key concerns identified and accepted by the earlier World Heritage Committee inquiry. The government has failed to act in a responsible manner to fulfil its domestic and international obligations and is instead relying on rhetoric, selective quotes, and information which has already been found lacking." ACF has called on Senator Hill to give effect to his declared committment to being fully transparent in reporting on this issue by immediately tabling all correspondence relating to Government moves over the Kakadu World Heritage issue. "Recently, Senator Hill was formally censured in the Senate over his failure to disclose key documents concerning Jabiluka. Today he has called for an open and objective process, and ACF looks forward to the Government making the previously denied material available for public examination." The continuation of works at Jabiluka has been opposed by the World Archeological Congress, the Australian Senate, the European parliament, the Catholic Social Justice Commission, the majority of the Australian community, and the regions traditional Aboriginal owners. The project is continuing in defiance of a clear reccommendation from the World heritage Committee - the worlds foremost natural and cultural heritage management authority. "Senator Hill's response is completely out of step with domestic and international opinion. April 15th is the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and this report shows that while the lights and music are on in Senator Hill's office, a large iceberg of public opinion is moving ever closer. The campaign to protect the country and culture of Kakadu will continue to grow." SENATOR NICK BOLKUS PRESS RELEASE COALITION LEAVES AUSTRALIA OPEN TO WORLD CRITICISM AGAIN "The Howard Government is risking further damage to Australia's international standing by its continued mishandling of the Kakadu National park" Shadow Minister for the Environment Senator Nick Bolkus said today "Today the Government has presented its response to world concerns about its handing of Kakadu. Unfortunately for Australia, the Government's report and its preparation are not good enough." "There has been no sign of the Governments consultation on the three major areas of international concern: scientific, environmental, or indigenous." "The response has for instance been prepared without consulting the traditional Owners, yet cultural concerns are of utmost importance to the World Heritage Committee." "Amongst these concerns of the World Heritage Committee is a fundamental committment to indigenous participation in any process. This has not happened. "Further there has been no consultation with interested parties, especially environmental groups. The office of the Supervising Scientist has played a major role in preparing the report. This use of this organisation is neither new, nor does it add any credibility to the Governments case. The World Heritage Committee knows that this is an authority within the Minister's responsibility." Senator Bolkus said. The Governments response has been prepared in secret and without adequate consultation. Its preparation follows a shameful sequence of events over the past five months during which time the Minister has displayed arrogance and rude disregard towards the World heritage Committee and its eminent members." "Of all countries, we should be trusted to deliver on our international obligations. The irresponsible handling of this issue by the Government in fact opens us to further international scrutiny, criticism and damage." If Australia was doing its job properly in protecting Kakadu's World heritage values, we would not be going through this process, and Australia's international reputation would not be at risk." ABC NEWS ITEM, THURSDAY 15 APRIL, 12.27PM AEST. The Australian Governments response to a UNESCO World heritage report argues that there is no scientific basis for finding the jabiluka uranium Mine will endanger the Kakadu National Park A UNESCO World Heritage mission to Kakadu National Park last year reccommended that work on the Jabiluka mine be stopped, because of environmental and cultural damage from the Jabiluka uranium mine. The World Heritage Committee asked the Australian Government for a detailed response to the committees report last year. Federal Environment Minister Robert Hill says the Governments response, and an independent report by the Office of the Supervising Scneitist will be delivered to the World Heritage Committee this week. 'The Australian Government knows that if we et a fir hearing on this process, the park can't be listed as endangered' Senator Hill said. 'Because you can't say that the Ranger mine, a big open cut mine that's been operating for 20 years, is not a threat and suddenly say that this new mine, small, only 22 hectares, underground, new technology is suddenly going to put 20,000 square kilometres of park in jeopardy.' Despite scathing criticisms of the committees report, the GFovernment says it has dealt with its concerns. it lists studies, negotiations, and monitoring which are happening or will happen. The office of the Supervising scientist has reviewed scientific issues raised by the UNESCO committee. It says there were weaknesses in mining company ERA's water modelling and has reccommended some changes to the design. But it says the risk to wetlands and people would have been extremely low anyway. It concludes that the scientific certainty of protecting Kakadu's natural values is very high. The organisation representing the Aboriginal traditional owners of the Jabiluka site has condemned the process that led to the report. The Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation saysTtraditional Owners have not been able to take part in a cultural assessment of the area because of blasting and drilling. A spokesman Matt Fagan says Traditional Owners are past expecting a new approach from the Government. 'The process they've undertaken over the last three months gives us no confidence that we're going to see anything new from the Government in relation to jabiluka' Mr Fagan said. It says that they want this mine to go ahead regardless of any of the concrns about the cultural and natural values of the kakadu World heritage area and they will manipulate information. ' Meanwhile the federal opposition says the Howard government is risking further damage to Australia's international standing by its handling of the Kakadu National Park. Shadow environment Minister Nick Bolkus says there has been no sign of government consultation with scientific, environmental, or indigenous groups. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
