Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support the Atomic Energy Amendment (Mine Rehabilitation and Closure) Bill 2022 as it demonstrates that the coalition are certainly responsible and dedicated to balancing economic and environmental management. I commend this bill to the Senate, knowing that the coalition began the process of engaging with Energy Resources of Australia over the rehabilitation of the Ranger mine under the previous government. I personally, in a former professional capacity, worked closely with the Mirarr people, the traditional owners, in terms of their connection with the Ranger mine. The Atomic Energy Amendment (Mine Rehabilitation and Closure) Bill 2022 supports all mine rehabilitation being completed to high standards. The current framework allows for ERA to undertake remediation work until January 2026.

Back in 1999 an agreement was reached between the Commonwealth government and ERA that, upon the completion of mining activities at the Ranger mine site in the Northern Territory, ERA would take charge of the rehabilitation of the Ranger mine site. Mining at Ranger ceased in January 2021, and remediation is already underway—and rightly so. More than 20 years ago it was believed that ERA would only need five years to complete the rehabilitation work on the site. This bill extends the legislative framework surrounding the rehabilitation, ensuring that ERA can complete this very important work to close out the site, continue monitoring and return the land, of course, to the Mirarr people, the traditional owners.

This bill's primary purpose is to enable the long-term remediation and monitoring of the site. Australia has some of the most stringent environmental and rehabilitative standards and processes in the world, despite what many environmentalists would argue, and supports ERA fulfilling their obligation to properly remediate the Ranger mine site. The Ranger Uranium Mine has served the country well over its years of operation, creating economic benefits for the country and local community and providing jobs and employment services to the local population and within the Northern Territory itself.

Traditional owners, the Northern Land Council and other Northern Territory bodies are supportive of this bill and have expressed their support for ERA fulfilling their obligations set out under the Atomic Energy Act to rehabilitate the Ranger mine site. The coalition began the process of engaging with ERA over the rehabilitation of Ranger mine under the previous government and supports this bill proceeding in order to guarantee Ranger can be fully rehabilitated by ERA over the coming years. I commend this bill to the Senate.