Uranium In Australia : A Detailed Timeline 1998

Uranium In Australia : A Detailed Timeline
1998
Compiled by the SEA-US Webmaster

December 1998

December 24 - The Democrats and the Australian Conservation Foundation are highly critical of Hill's radioactive Christmas present for Australia with his Beverley approval and label the project world's worst practice, and claim that they will continue to fight against the proposed mine.
December 24 - (Alleged) Environment Minister Robert Hill announces a Clayton's approval for Beverley, saying he sees no environmental reason why Beverley should not proceed. However, based on the independent advice from April Lafferty, Hill has requested further testing of the Beverley aquifer system to prove it is isolated with certainty. So, until these tests are completed, Hill cannot sign on the dotted line. The advice for further testing vindicates much of the environment movement's opposition and critique of the Beverley Project and EIS to date.
December 21 - Traditional owners of the Billa Kalina region - the area of the proposed national low-level radioactive wast dump and the possible high-level nuclear waste dump - say they adamantly oppose any nuclear dump in their country, but are caught in a legal process to abide by exploration and drilling beginning for the possible site.
December 17 - The involvement of Westpac Banking Corporation and their support of ERA and Jabiluka comes under heavy criticism with actions all over Australia. The Wilderness Society claims Westpac has been misleading the public and its shareholders over its involvement, and urges Westpac to meet its environmental policy and withdraw from ERA and Jabiluka.
December 15 - Australian Conservation Foundation claims that ERA is in dire straights, and will struggle to maintain profitability.
December 14 - ERA announce a cut-back in production at their Ranger mine, due to the persistently depressed uranium market.
December 14 - Two activists arrested at Jabiluka are given mandatory 14-day sentences in a Darwin court.
December 11 - Federal Government announces yet another delay to its formal decision on Beverley, saying it needs more time to analyse the USA report and other information. Hill also claims the USA reports will be made public at the appropriate time.
December 7 - Democrats learn that ERA has approached the Government over Jabiluka, with a view to ending its involvement in Jabiluka and possible compensation.
December 7 - Catholic Church announces its opposition to the Jabiluka mine, arguing that its completely disrespectful of the traditional owners in the decade of reconciliation.
December 6 - Thousands join the Stop Jabiluka rally in Melbourne, with 91 year old Alvie Booth - who was arrested at the Jabiluka lease - calling for Howard to drop the 10-point plan and uranium mining and to support Mabo and Wik in her address to the crowd.
December 5 - 750 Japanese peace/anti-nuclear activists arrive in Darwin on the "Peace Boat" to support the Mirrar and the Anti-Jabiluka campaign.
December 4 - Two arrested protestors show the Jabiluka documentary in a Darwin court as part of their defence.
December 3 - Tasmanian government calls on the Federal Government to abide by the UNESCO decision and stop mine construction at Jabiluka.
December 2 - ERA defend Jabiluka's construction, and say they will continue to lobby their customers on the issues, in a poor attempt at discrediting the success of the environment movement.
December 2 - Resources Minister, Nick Minchin, in a desperate attempt to defray public anger at the proposed international waste dump, merely labels the idea as "free speech"!
December 2 - Despite the delay in any formal decision on Kakadu, the World Heritage Bureau admits it does consider Kakadu National Park to be endangered. Hill, the Government and ERA continue to feel the pressure mounting over Jabiluka.
December 1 - Federal Resources Minister, Nick Minchin, confirms that representatives of Pangea Resources have had meetings with government officials over using Australia as an international nuclear waste dump. Meanwhile, SA Premier and long-time nuclear cronie, John Olsen, claims no knowledge of the Pangea proposal but wants to see a detailed proposal!
December 1 - A 15 minute video by Pangea promoting Australia as an 'ideal' site for all the world's nuclear waste is leaked to Friends of the Earth and others.
December 1 - In the face of concerted international pressure, ERA arrogantly continues with construction of the Jabiluka underground mine, supported whole-heartedly by the Government.
December 1 - Calls come from all over the globe for the Jabiluka mine construction to halt while UNESCO continues assessing the proposed mine.
December 1 - World Heritage Bureau decides to delay until June 1999 any formal decision to place Kakadu as "In Danger", and calls for Jabiluka mine construction to cease during such time.
December 1 - Democrats join SA Labour in calling for complete disclosure regarding the independent reports for Beverley - and challenge the government to remove the veil of secrecy with the project.
November 1998

November 30 - ERA avoid questions about possible compensation if Jabiluka approvals are withdrawn, claiming they and the Government will successfully refute the original report.
November 30 - Two expert advisory bodies to the World Heritage Convention - the World Conservation Union and the International Council on Monuments and Sites - say failure to implement the original mission report could undermine the convention's credibility.
November 28 - The Wilderness Society and the Federal Opposition claim the Government is bullying the World Heritage Bureau and doing dirty deals with countries like Mexico in order to win crucial votes.
November 28 - World Heritage Bureau appears to be trying to delay the decision to place Kakadu on the "In Danger" list - with the final decision to be made later this week.
November 28 - SA Resources Minister, Rob Kerin, says they may not be able to release the complete report by the USA expert commissioned to report on the proposed Beverley ISL mine.
November 28 - Further 29 citizens - including a 65 year old pensioner, arrested at the Jabiluka lease in July face court in Darwin, pleading guilty to trespass and were convicted and fined $200 to $400.
November 27 - World Heritage Bureau commends the delegation and its report, and considers sending a delegation to study the Great Barrier Reef, with a view to placing it on the "In Danger" list in the near future.
November 27 - 15 citizens arrested at the Jabiluka lease in July face court in Darwin, pleading guilty to trespass and were convicted and fined $300 to $400.
November 27 - Hill continues to stand by his comments and keeps attacking the UNESCO delegation.
November 27 - Chair of the UNESCO delegation, Prof. Francesco Francioni, says the Minister's comments are very strange. "I find quite extraordinary that this language is used," he said. "Especially since I personally ensure that the mission cooperated and remained open to any kind of input and any kind of interaction with the Australian Government."
November 26 - Yvonne Margarula wins the Friends of the Earth International Environment Award.
November 26 - Hill has to deny rumours that the Government will withdraw from UNESCO if Kakaud is placed "In Danger".
November 26 - Pressure mounts on Hill and the Government to accept the report - as it comes to light that the only 2 members of the UNESCO delegation who dissented with the report were Hill's hand-picked cronies - formerly well-respected scientists now asked to do the government's dirty work.
November 26 - Kim Beazley argues that if Kakadu is placed "In Danger", tourism will be adversely effected. Beazley also goes on to claim that Hill has failed Australia as an Environment Minister.
November 26 - Alec Marr, from The Wilderness Society, argues that when Kakadu was established Ranger was meant to be a "no-release" mine, and now is regular release mine and has had effects on the Magela Creek wetlands.
November 26 - Government increases pressure on the World Heritage Bureau to reject the UNESCO delegation's report, seething that it was factually flawed and did not enjoy the support of the majority of the delegation.
November 25 - Democrats insist that the Government invoke the World Heritage Act and stop Jabiluka.
November 25 - ERA claims that they have been betrayed and that the authors of the UNESCO report had a "pre-set" agenda.
November 25 - (Alleged) Environment Minister Robert Hill calls a press conference to announce that the UNESCO delegation has recommended that Jabiluka should not proceed. Hill condemns the report as a superficial assessment, not rigorous and biased.
November 23 - SA Labour call for complete disclosure of the independent report for the problems at Beverley.
November 20 - High Court rejects the Mirrar's last legal appeal to reject the validity of the Jabiluka mining lease - a decision ERA claims removes the last legal impediment to Jabiluka proceeding.
November 19 - ERA confirms it had a leak of 20,000 litres from its waste ore stockpile.
November 16 - Alleged leak at the Ranger uranium mine - reports remain unconfirmed.
November 13 - Democrats and the Australian Conservation Foundation welcome the delay for Beverley, arguing that the independent advice is serios recognition of the issues involved with Beverley and ISL uranium mining.
November 12 - SA Government announce the postponement of EIS approvals for Beverley and the appointment of an ISL expert from the USA, April Lafferty - a former regulator of ISL uranimu mines in Wyoming.
November 12 - Government blocks attempts in the Senate to force disclosure of all confidential documents about Jabiluka.
November 8 - Maralinga's attempted clean-up wins the Earth Award from the Civil Contractors Association.
November 5 - Yvonne Margarula, senior traditional owner of the Mirrar, wins the inaugral international Nuclear Free Future award, by a United Nations supported organisation.
November 2 - Mirrar claim that an "In Danger" listing for Kakadu would be the Government's fault.
November 1 - North Ltd cancel their shareholder information meeting in Melbourne, due to protests being organised by the Melbourne Jabiluka Action Group (JAG).
November 1 - Mirrar reject Hill's criticism's and claim he is completely ignorant of the facts.
November 1 - (Alleged) Environment Minister publicly admits that the UNESCO delegation has not changed government policy and support for Jabiluka, and criticises the Mirrar for their continued opposition.
October 1998

October 31 - Winding up the UNESCO tour, Prof. Francioni states : "There are problems that are related to various cumulative effects of both tourism and the proposed mining, the existing mine the compatability of these activities, which no doubt have a significant impact on the ecosystem and on the living cultural traditions."
October 30 - At the North Ltd AGM, 40 citizens are evicted as North refused to acknowledge concerns and opposition to Jabiluka.
October 30 - UNESCO delegation arrives in Canberra, meeting (alleged) Environment Minister Robert Hill, as well as environment groups including The Wilderness Society and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
October 29 - ERA spend the day with the UNESCO delegation in Kakadu. Managing Director Phillip Shirvington attempts to present to UNESCO that Jabiluka poses no threats, ecologically or culturally to Kakadu. He also claims he has had to counter "misinformation", especially about water issues and radiation exposures.
October 28 - WMC Copper-Uranium division boss, Piers Bowman, suggests that the new power station for SA could be NUCLEAR, and WMC would be happy to supply the uranium.
October 28 - The Australian branch of the International Council of Monuments and Sites, which advises UNESCO on world heritage matters, concludes that Kakadu is "In Danger".
October 28 - Emeritus Professor of archaeology, John Mulvaney, joins environment groups in calling for Kakadu to be placed "In Danger".
October 27 - UNESCO tour Aboriginal communities of Kakadu, as guests of the Mirrar.
October 27 - Mirrar plead with the UNESCO delegation to place Kakadu on the "In Danger" list because of the threats from the proposed Jabiluka mine.
October 26 - Jacqui Katona and Yvonne Margarula show the UN team their culture at Jabiluka, and explain the threats the proposed mine presents - the tour ends watching the world famous sunset at the Ubirr rock art site.
October 26 - UN World Heritage Bureau begins their inspection of Kakadu National Park to determine the threats of the proposed Jabiluka mine.
October 23 - ACF calls for the federal government to reject the Draft and Supplementary EIS for the proposed mine at Beverley, SA.
October 21 - UN World Heritage Inspection trip details released, with the federal government refusing to allow the Mirra to be part of the whole trip.
October 20 - International protests against Jabiluka - in Japan, Germany & Spain.
October 18 - Jabiluka blockade closes temporarily for the Wet Season.
October 16 - The Mirrar's legal bid against the NT government for approving construction before all federal approvals were in place fails in the NT Supreme court.
October 14 - SA Liberal backbencher, Angus Redford MLC, announces he wants an inquiry to establishing a nuclear power plant in SA, saying it should be considered for a range of reasons, including environmental and economic reasons in the long term. However, the State Treasurer, Rob Lucas, immediately rebuffed his own party member by stating clearly and bluntly "it is not economical to build one in South Australia or interstate".
October 13 - ERA's Philip Shervington announce they are happy with the return of the Coalition government - "I think with the Coalition back in power, certainly in relation to Jabiluka it'll mean less ulcers for me." He also goes on to admit "We're hoping to have Jabiluka in production by 2001, but we don't actually need it urgently in terms of replacing Ranger until Ranger starts to get exhausted around 2004 to 2006,"
October 13 - More damage done to the retention pond by three people who stabbed the special plastic lining - damage about $10,000.
October 6 - Mirrar and the Jabiluka Alliance announce the temporary closing of the blockade camp for the coming Wet Season by the end of the month.
October 6 - Mike Reid, NT Police Minister, says the Australian "public will welcome the closure of the blockade at the Jabiluka uranium mine will welcome". Extraordinary statement given that 67% of Australians OPPOSE Jabiluka.
October 5 - Western Australian uranium companies (Rio Tinto - Kintyre, Paladin Resources - Manyingee and Acclaim Uranium) announce that the re-election of the Coalition government gives them all approvals for new uranium mines - SO WHY DO AN EIS IF APPROVALS ARE SO GUARANTEED?
October 3 - Heathgate announce the release of their Supplementary EIS (or Response) for Tuesday October 6, 1998. Just in time before the election.
October 3 - Federal election, and the Coalition is returned, with their majority in the lower house slashed.
October 2 - People blockade the loading of Ranger-supplied uranium to a transport ship in Darwin, NT.
October 1 - Environment and human rights groups in Germany stage an international protest at the proposed Jabiluka mine.
September 1998

September 30 - Protest held at Deputy Prime Minister's Tim Fischer's office in Albury, NSW.
September 29 - More than 80 arrests at Jabiluka, at a week of action for the blockade. Simultaneous actions were also held across Australia, ranging from the cities to Bells Beach and the Blue Mountains.
September 25 - Drilling of the main underground mine entrance portal begins at Jabiluka, despite no fully approved milling option yet for the ore and tailings.
September 23 - In true Senator Hill style, he announces the delay of the UN-World Heritage Inspection Team for Kakadu and Jabiluka until after the election, to late October.
September 21 - Fire bomb on ERA Environmental Services (ERA whoolly owned subsidiary) office in Darwin at night - damage small, about $100,000.
September 19 - Further 13 people arrested at Jabiluka.
September 17 - Heathgate sign the Mining Agreements with all Native Title claimants in a public ceremony. One leader, Vince Coulthard, said that "he had little choice but to sign the agreement".
September 16 - High-profile Democrats Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja visits the NT and Jabiluka Blockade for two days.
September 7 - Semi-trailor speeds through the blockade camp at midnight, endangering the lives of many activists and Australians.
September 2 - ERA announce the signing of alleged contracts for Jabiluka-sourced uranium, trying to argue that this now makes Jabiluka an existing mine and cannot be stopped by Labour.
September 2 - Melbourne protest blockades ERA's parent company, North Ltd, preventing staff from working for the day.
September 2 - Kim Beazley, Leader of the ALP, questions ERA's approvals and argues that all environmental approvals are still incomplete.
September 2 - The Northern Territory's Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority will not be prosecuting ERA for allegedly interfering with a Mirrar sacred site during construction works for Jabiluka.
September 1 - Yvonne Margarula found guilty of tresspas on her own land for trying to protect country against the Proposed Jabiluka uranium mine.
August 1998

August 28 - Heathgate announce they have received over 1,000 submissions on their Draft EIS for Beverley, and hope to release their Supplement within a month. This included about 1,000 form submissions!!!
August 27 - Senator Warwick Parer, Resources Minister, approves Hill's recommendations and claims he has paved the way for ERA to begin mining.
August 25 - Senator Robert Hill, Environment Minister, gives conditional approval to the Jabiluka Mill Alternative Public Environment Report, although he does not approve surface tailings pits.
August 21 - Submissions close for the Beverley EIS.
August 18 - Paladin announce that they have found new uranium deposits within the Lake Frome region, totalling about 30,000 tonnes of U₃O₈ but curiously do not release full exploration data to justify their surprise claims.
August 17 - ANSTO release the Draft EIS for their proposed new nuclear research reactor.
August 10 - The Jabiluka Blockade activists stage a People's Court and place ERA on trial, and find them guilty on just about everything really......
August 5 - Heathgate admit, after intense questioning by the ACF (SA), that they did in fact have a surface leak at the Beverley trial ISL mine on March 12, 1998.
July 1998

July 28 - Yvonne Margarula wins a United Nations-recognised award for leading the campaign to resist the Jabiluka Uranium Proposal.
July 28 - Further sixteen citizens arrested at Jabiluka.
July 23 - The Queensland Council of Civil Liberties slams the treatment of anti-Jabiluka protestors by NT Police, claiming an abuse of their legal and human rights.
July 20 - The University of Queensland denies any public radiation exposure from uranium ore formerly stored on site at their Experimental Mine. The 10 tonnes of radioactive ore was from north-western Queensland sometime in the 1950's. The contaminated soil and leftover ore was removed dumped at Mary Kathleen in 1986. Adjacent residents are suing for cancer they allege they suffered from the site.
July 17 - Queensland Labor announce their anti-nuclear policy, preventing any aspect of the nuclear fuel cycle in Queensland, effectively stopping Ben Lomond and all other proposals !!!
July 17 - Two Christian peace activists arrested at Jabiluka.
July 14 - Further one hundred and eighteen citizens arrested at Jabiluka, amid allegations of excessive police violence and injuries.
July 13 - Uranium Australia announce they are not proceeding with development of the Angela deposit near Alice Springs in the NT, due to economics reasons and the risk of ALP's "No New Uranium Mines" Policy.
July 11 - ERA detonate explosives to begin construction of the underground portal for the mine, even though protestors were clearly visible only 200 metres away - the law says no-one must within 1.5 km of any explosion.
July 8 - High profile Australians - Midnight Oil singer Peter Garrett, former Labor Minister and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivor Tom Uren and renowned jazz singer Vince Jones - lead a protest with Yvonne Margarula of over 500 people near the Jabiluka site.
July 6 - Public comment on the Jabiluka Mill Alternative PER closes.
July 5 - Further eleven citizens arrested at Jabiluka.
July 3 - Mass arrests at Jabiluka, with one hundred and six citizens arrested - seventy-nine were taken to Darwin for police processing. The NT Police Minister branded protestors as "interstate ferals".
July 1 - Further nine citizens arrested at the Jabiluka lease, with seven facing mandatory 14-day sentences.
June 1998

June 29 - Further thirty-one citizens arrested at the Jabiluka lease.
June 29 - Heathgate release their Draft EIS for the Beverley Proposal.
June 24 - World Heritage Unit announce they will visit Kakadu to inspect the threats from the Jabiluka Proposal, with one of the highest level delegations ever assembled to undertake such an assessment.
June 24 - Four prominent Professors from the Australian National University (ANU) condemn the original Jabiluka EIS, and strongly criticise the government's approvals process - concerns immediately rejected by the government and ERA.
June 20 - Representatives of the Mirrar travel to Paris to persuade UNESCO's World Heritage Bureau to place Kakadu on the World Heritage in Danger list.
June 20 - Interviewed about the Jabiluka blockade, Police Superintendent O'Meara says. "... we are all walking around humming the Jabiluka song. It is going to haunt us for the rest of our lives."
June 17 - The Brisbane Jabiluka Action Group (JAG) hold an action outside the Stock Exchange.
June 16 - ERA begin work on the Jabiluka lease at midnight in the dark, and more trucks arrive later in the day.
June 16 - Further eighteen citizens arrested at the Jabiluka blockade for trying to prevent the onslaught of construction.
June 15 - More than 700 mine workers at Olympic Dam go out on 24-hour strike in protest at the federal government's Workplace Relations legislation.
June 15 - Three trucks enter the Jabiluka lease under the stealth of darkness late in the evening, after ERA refused - two citizens were arrested earlier in the day.
June 12 - Further eight citizens arrested at the Jabiluka blockade.
June 12 - The Northern Territory Supreme Court refuses an injunction sought by the Mirrar to prevent the start of construction at Jabiluka, amid claims by ERA that its operations would be irreparably damaged if the mine was to be delayed any further.
June 10 - Environment Groups criticise how ERA could be printing the PER while the Guidelines were still be finalised, calling the assessment process a farce and a joke.
June 10 - Paladin Resources NL acquire the Manyingee and Oobagooma uranium deposits from Cogema, announcing plans for new uranium ISL mines.
June 9 - Further eight citizens arrested at the Jabiluka blockade.
June 9 - ERA release their Public Environment Report (PER) for the Jabiluka Mill Alternative, with proposals to use cement paste tailings disposal instead of a conventional tailings dam, although 50% of the tailings will at the surface and 50% be placed underground. Public comment is open to July 6.
June 2 - Eric Poole, Minister for Mines & Energy, approves the start of construction at Jabiluka.
June 1 - Injunction lifted, and ERA undertake to give the Mirrar seven days notice in writing before undertaking construction.
May 1998

May 28 - Further three citizens arrested at the Jabiluka blockade.
May 28 - Federal Court case delayed and transferred to Darwin.
May 27 - Federal Court extends for 24 hours the injunction preventing approval of construction at Jabiluka, while 400 concerned citizens march through Sydney streets at 24 hours notice.
May 26 - Queensland ALP announce that they will not allow any new uranium mines if elected in the June election, nor any other aspect of the nuclear fuel cycle.
May 26 - Further nine citizens arrested at the Jabiluka blockade.
May 22 - After taking action in the Federal Court, the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation win a court order preventing the NT Minister for Mines & Energy from approving the start of construction of Jabiluka.
May 21 - Police issue an ultimatum to the blockade to clear the entrance to the Jabiluka mineral lease.
May 19 - Yvonne Margarula and Jacqui Katona, along four other citizens are arrested inside the Jabiluka mineral lease.
May 19 - International Day of Action over Jabiluka - actions are held in Japan, Korea, Germany, the USA, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands.
May 12 - The Northern Land Council (NLC) criticise ERA for promoting the new agreement as consulting with traditional owners, they clearly point out the fact that the Mirrar do not want mine and that ERA are simply fulfilling their obligations under the 1982 agreement.
May 11 - ERA announce that a new Jabiluka agreement has been negotiated, under the provisions of the 1982 agreement - no authority was given by the NLC, however, to mill the ore at Ranger.
May 8 - Two citizens arrested at the Jabiluka blockade.
April 1998

April 29 - Southern Cross Resources announce an upgrade of the Gould's Dam uranium ISL deposit from 2,300 to 17,600 t U₃O₈ by using a lower cutoff grade for ISL mining.
April 29 - Federal Environment Minister, Robert Hill, announces that ERA will have to prepare a Public Environment Report (PER) on the Jabiluka Mill Alternative, amid outrage from environment groups screaming for a complete new EIS on the whole project. Comments on the Draft Guidelines to close on June 1.
April 24 - Duncan Kerr, Labor's Shadow Environment Minister, criticises Hill for being alseep at the wheel when the SA government approved production trials at SA uranium ISL proposals sites.
April 23 - Midnight Oil, Regurgitator and other high profile bands hold a concert at the blockade.
April 14 - Olympic gold medal Aboriginal athlete, Nova Peris-Kneebone, a traditional neighbour of the Mirrar people, announces her support to stop the Jabiluka Proposal.
April 9 - Jabiluka blockade prevents the onset of construction - although ERA claim (April 14) they are "building a fence to maintain site safety from protestors".
April 5 - National Day of Action across Australia to protest at the Jabiluka Proposal, and the ideologically driven agenda of the federal government.

Every attempt is made to make this timeline accurate and comprehensive, but please use carefully !!
Any questions, please email the SEA-US Webmaster.
Page last updated February 17, 2000.
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Uranium In Australia : A Detailed Timeline1998

December 1998

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Uranium In Australia : A Detailed Timeline
1998