Traditional owners of Kakadu have a simple message for Energy Resources Australia: no.
In March ERA, an 86.3 per cent owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto, lodged an application for the renewal of the Jabiluka mineral lease, within Kakadu.
In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange ERA said the company has no development plans for a "large, high-quality uranium ore body of global significance" contained in the lease.
“We believe the renewal of ERA’s mineral lease is the best way to protect Jabiluka’s cultural heritage," ERA chief executive Brad Welsh said.
“ERA has protected the cultural heritage at Jabiluka for almost two decades under a long-term agreement with the Mirarr traditional owners that also includes a veto right over any future development.
"The agreement and veto right only remain in place if the lease is renewed.”
But Mirarr man Corben Mudjandi says traditional owners don't want the lease renewed.
"It's like if I were to hand a shotgun to someone that has a happy trigger finger," he told AAP.
"It's dangerous, it's not good for country, culture or all the old people."
The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC), which represents the Mirarr traditional owners of the former Ranger uranium mine, the Jabiluka mineral lease area and parts of Kakadu National Park, said the only discussions they have had with ERA have been confined to preparations for the expiry of the mineral lease in August.
Uranium prices have skyrocketed over the past year, meaning several previously mothballed projects in Australia and overseas are being considered for reopening, including the Honeymoon mine in South Australia, 80km north west of Broken Hill.
Mirarr people are concerned about ERA's financial position, after the company reported in December that it would need to raise $1.2 billion to cover rehabilitation costs at Ranger.
“We can’t trust ERA," senior traditional owner Yvonne Margarula said.
"Right up until 2020 they said they would have Ranger all cleaned up by January 2026, now they say they don’t know how long it will take.
"I’m very worried, we can’t trust this company, very soon they will have nothing left.”
Protection of globally significant cultural heritage, insurmountable risks to the environment in Kakadu National Park and an absence of any feasibility studies or proposals are all factors that stand in the way of an extension application, GAC said.
ERA independent non-executive director Ken Wyatt said the application for the lease renewal protects the rights of the Mirarr to control the future of the site.
“I have worked with Indigenous groups from all over the world and understand the importance of a veto right," he said.
"The best way to preserve the veto right is to renew the ... Jabiluka lease.”
But Mr Mudjandi called on the federal government to honour its promise and not support ERA's application.
"ERA will say other stuff, they'll find some other ways and they'll use technical English - we call it sweet-talk," he said.
"But really, we don't want it.
"We know what the consequences are and what they're offering and the answer is no."
