Kakadu National Park, 200kms east of Darwin in the Northern Territory, was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1981. It was the first area in Australia, and one of only 17 sites in the world to be listed for both its cultural and natural values.

The region has been inhabited continuously for more than 40,000 years, the history of its Mirrar people recorded in local rock carvings and cave paintings. Kakadu's wetlands contain unique and complex ecosystems, and is home to many rare species of plants and animals.

In 1982, mining company Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) successfully negotiated with the Northern Land Council for approval of a mining lease at Jabiluka. That agreement is questionable, as it is clear that Indigenous leaders were worn down by a long and divisive negotiation process. While the Mirrar people have Native Title over the land, this was effectively overridden for the purposes of uranium mining, which was deemed to be in "the national interest". The mine has been opposed by thousands of protesters over the past decade on cultural as well as environmental grounds.

Last year, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee considered Kakadu to be threatened by the uranium mining, and earmarked the park for listing as "in danger". Supporting their concerns was evidence that the ERA-operated Ranger mine had breached its environmental requirements on 96 counts.

But following the Federal Government's submission to an extraordinary meeting of the WHC in July last year the "in danger" listing did not go ahead, a decision which went against the advice of the Committee's own scientific, cultural and technical experts.

While the WHC may no longer consider the area under threat, the Mirrar people do. The Mirrar have dreaming tracks and sacred sites throughout Kakadu, including the lease areas. They believe that "mining activity on the Jabiluka Mineral Lease presents a genocidal danger to their living tradition", impacting on "food collection, ceremony, customary law, spiritual connection and socio-political systems".

The toxic waste of a uranium mine remains active for over 240,000 years.

Work continues on the construction of Jabiluka mine. Mining was scheduled to commence in 2001 but recent estimates suggest mining will start in 2006.

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