By Sibylle Kaczorek
DARWIN — The federal government decision to give the green light to uranium mining at Jabiluka was met with a 150-strong protest in Darwin on October 9.
Called at short notice by the Coalition Against Uranium Mining, the rally was addressed by Environment Centre coordinator Jayne Weepers who pointed out that the decision ignored the rights and wishes of the Mirrar people — the Aboriginal traditional owners of the area.
Weepers outlined the various challenges that the Coalition confronts before Jabiluka can go ahead, and was optimistic that the mine could be stopped.
The open microphone session that followed enabled supporters to raise issues including alternative energy options, such as solar, and the failings of the environmental and social impact studies of the proposed mine.
The rally organisers proposed a march to the offices of the NT's two senators. ALP Senator Bob Collins responded evasively to questions from protesters, who squashed into his foyer.
The protesters then marched to the office of Country Liberal Party Senator Grant Tambling to deliver a letter calling on him to represent the views of the protesters in government. The letter also called on Howard to visit the mine site and hear the views of the Mirrar people.
Tambling, whose office was well-guarded by police, spoke of the Howard government's commitment to environmental issues, stating that he and the protesters simply had different opinions on the issue of Jabiluka and on the appropriate balance between economic and environmental interests.
From Brisbane Roberto Jorquera reports that more than 100 people, some of whom had just returned from blockading Hinchinbrook, protested outside the office of resources minister Warwick Parer on October 9.
Drew Hutton from the Queensland Greens told the crowd that "the government can expect the biggest environmental campaign for quite a while".