The federal government is moving to end a uranium lease at Jabiluka and add it to Kakadu National Park. 

The Albanese Government has advised the Northern Territory Government not to renew the Jabiluka Mineral Lease, clearing the path for the site to be incorporated into Kakadu National Park. 

This decision, reflecting the wishes of the Mirarr Traditional Owners, seeks to end long-standing uncertainties surrounding the Jabiluka uranium project.

The Commonwealth's advice allows the Northern Territory Government to decline the extension of the Jabiluka uranium project lease, held by Energy Resources Australia (ERA) since 1991. 

Despite the licence, no mining has taken place on the site.

“ERA and their major shareholder, Rio Tinto, rightly committed to not developing the site without the support of the Mirarr Traditional Owners, who are completely opposed to the renewal of the lease,” said Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King.

“I have met with all significant stakeholders in the Jabiluka Mineral Lease. This decision provides clarity and certainty to all parties.”

King said Jabiluka is a site of significant cultural importance, including its extensive rock art, shelters, and paintings, which form one of the longest historical records of any group of people on earth. 

“Aboriginal people have occupied the Kakadu region continuously for at least 65,000 years,” she said.

Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, says she will work with the Traditional Owners to integrate Jabiluka into Kakadu National Park. 

“Kakadu’s rock art documents Indigenous creation stories and makes up one of the longest historical records of any group of people in the world. And it’s home to 2,000 plant species, around one-third of all Australian bird species and about one-fifth of all Australian mammals. That’s why today I’m pleased to begin work to incorporate the Jabiluka site into Kakadu National Park. We’ll do that alongside Mirarr Traditional Owners who have been successfully looking after this land for tens of thousands of years,” she said.

The mineral lease for the site will officially end on August 11. 

The Jabiluka site is adjacent to the former Ranger Uranium Mine, also owned by ERA and Rio Tinto, which has been undergoing rehabilitation since 2021.

The decision to integrate Jabiluka into Kakadu National Park is not expected to impact Australian uranium supplies, as the site has never been mined.