Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the
Environmental Regulation of Uranium Mining

This Inquiry marks a positive step towards addressing the failings of the nuclear industry, in particular the In Situ Leach uranium mines at Beverley and Honeymoon in South Australia, and Ranger and Jabiluka in Kakadu (Northern Territory). Given the number of incidents, leaks and failures to appropriately monitor and regulate the above mines I ask that the Inquiry recommends:

At Beverley and at Honeymoon ISL mines

* The Federal and South Australian Governments to commit to protection of groundwater -including no discharge of mine waste to groundwater, to prohibit underground leaks into connected aquifers and to require rehabilitation of mining impacts on groundwater.
* Increased monitoring of operations and public reporting of all radioactive leaks
* A new public environmental assessment of the management of mine wastes

At Kakadu mines

* Federal and NT Governments to facilitate the rehabilitation, lease relinquishment and incorporation of the Jabiluka and Koongarra mineral leases into Kakadu National Park.
* Rio Tinto and relevant government agencies to support a phase out, exit and rehabilitation strategy for Ranger, including aiding the establishment of a viable Aboriginal economy independent of mining.
* A credible action plan for the protection of the World Heritage property and its values.
* Federal and NT Governments to act to reduce environmental impacts of operations at Ranger, including strengthened monitoring, reporting and regulatory regimes which have more event based monitoring, increased monitoring scope and trigger points, and enhanced reporting.

Ultimately, a change in current practices is the only way to ensure an improvement in what is clearly a very dangerous and destructive industry. I look forward to the inclusion of the above in the Inquiry's recommendations when it reports on December 5.

Yours sincerely