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Editors --- "Jabiluka Campaigners Open Up New Front" [1999] IndigLawB 34; (1999) 4(20) Indigenous Law Bulletin 17


Jabiluka Campaigners Open Up New Front

Do you or anyone else you know have shares in North Ltd? Wilderness Society campaigners are contacting North shareholders regarding North's development of the Jabiluka uranium mine in Kakadu National Park. The development is vehemently opposed by the local Mirrar traditional owners. The campaign is now at a crucial stage in getting enough shareholders to create dissent within the company, and to hopefully persuade North to drop the project.

If you or anyone you know have shares in North Ltd, send your email address to chris.doran@wilderness.org.au or ring 02 9552 2788 for the relevant information.

The Wilderness Society is also running a campaign to publicise Westpac's substantial involvement as the main financier, and one of the largest institutional shareholders in North Ltd. Westpac's own environment policy states that the bank will ‘seek to take environmental issues into account in its lending decisions’ and that it will ‘meet or exceed recognised community environmental standards’. A 1998 Newspoll revealed that over two thirds of all Australians are opposed to the Jabiluka project, and a National Day of Action on 13 April saw over forty protests at Westpac branches around the country which gained substantial media coverage. It is believed hundreds of accounts have been closed with Westpac because of its involvement with Jabiluka.

Environmental activists in Germany have also been active on the Jabiluka issue, and are lobbying the German Government to stop buying Australian uranium.

In another recent development, the Senate voted on 27 April to begin an Inquiry into the Jabiluka Mine project. The Inquiry has been referred to the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee which is now seeking submissions on the following issues:

Submissions are due on 21 May, and the Committee is due to report by the end of May. Further details are available from the Committee Secretariat. Ph: (02) 6277 5829 email: <erca@sen.gov.aph.au>


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