Mr DUNHAM - 1998-11-26
Can the minister advise what the employment implications are for the new Jabiluka mine that are now being put at risk by the recommendations of the UNSECO mission?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, Jabiluka is obviously a very important economic development to the Northern Territory and it will generate at least $6200m - that is $6.2 billion - in real gross domestic product, not only for the Territory, but for Australia. During the construction stage of Jabiluka, the project will employ 164 people, and there will be substantial spin-offs to local Territory business, with obvious implications for further employment. Once in production, Jabiluka will employ an additional 110 people, if the Jabiluka mill alternative is taken up. Again, there will be further economic implications to Territory businesses and wider employment prospects, indirectly.
Should Jabiluka not proceed, 250 jobs at Ranger will disappear in the year 2004, when the resources of that mine have been exhausted. Those 250 jobs represent a loss of at least $2.5m to the Territory economy, a loss coming out of the businesses of Darwin in rents, in cars, in gasoline, in groceries, in recreational pursuits.
Jabiru has less than 1500 people in a town that was originally designed for some 6000 people. The impact from the Jabiluka mine on the town will be minimal and certainly will not have any of the effects that are suggested in the UNESCO report.
Clearly, and I think this is obvious to all Territorians who have been out there and had a look, the Ranger mine has not negatively impacted during the past 18 years on the environmental management values of Kakadu, as this House knows from the work of the environment committee, and as has been regularly reported by the Office of the Supervising Scientist. In fact, the Ranger mine has obviously brought major benefits to the Northern Territory and to the region. Some $1.3m was spent by ERA in 1997-98 on more than 25 projects, further advancing environmental knowledge and protection techniques.
The successful rehabilitation of uranium mines can clearly be seen at Nabarlek, where mining has been completed. The area now has been fully rehabilitated and is nearly ready to be handed back to the traditional owners.
Jabiluka is an important regional development with regional employment implications. ERA has guaranteed a minimum of 25 jobs for Aboriginal people. I understand the royalties benefits will total millions - something like $120m over the life of the mine - and in addition, there is a range of other benefits which will amount to at least $9m.
Jabiluka is very important to the economy of the Northern Territory. I suggest that this report and the recommendations that have been made by the UNESCO mission are totally outrageous and certainly will not be supported by this government.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, Jabiluka is obviously a very important economic development to the Northern Territory and it will generate at least $6200m - that is $6.2 billion - in real gross domestic product, not only for the Territory, but for Australia. During the construction stage of Jabiluka, the project will employ 164 people, and there will be substantial spin-offs to local Territory business, with obvious implications for further employment. Once in production, Jabiluka will employ an additional 110 people, if the Jabiluka mill alternative is taken up. Again, there will be further economic implications to Territory businesses and wider employment prospects, indirectly.
Should Jabiluka not proceed, 250 jobs at Ranger will disappear in the year 2004, when the resources of that mine have been exhausted. Those 250 jobs represent a loss of at least $2.5m to the Territory economy, a loss coming out of the businesses of Darwin in rents, in cars, in gasoline, in groceries, in recreational pursuits.
Jabiru has less than 1500 people in a town that was originally designed for some 6000 people. The impact from the Jabiluka mine on the town will be minimal and certainly will not have any of the effects that are suggested in the UNESCO report.
Clearly, and I think this is obvious to all Territorians who have been out there and had a look, the Ranger mine has not negatively impacted during the past 18 years on the environmental management values of Kakadu, as this House knows from the work of the environment committee, and as has been regularly reported by the Office of the Supervising Scientist. In fact, the Ranger mine has obviously brought major benefits to the Northern Territory and to the region. Some $1.3m was spent by ERA in 1997-98 on more than 25 projects, further advancing environmental knowledge and protection techniques.
The successful rehabilitation of uranium mines can clearly be seen at Nabarlek, where mining has been completed. The area now has been fully rehabilitated and is nearly ready to be handed back to the traditional owners.
Jabiluka is an important regional development with regional employment implications. ERA has guaranteed a minimum of 25 jobs for Aboriginal people. I understand the royalties benefits will total millions - something like $120m over the life of the mine - and in addition, there is a range of other benefits which will amount to at least $9m.
Jabiluka is very important to the economy of the Northern Territory. I suggest that this report and the recommendations that have been made by the UNESCO mission are totally outrageous and certainly will not be supported by this government.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016