Northern Territory traditional owners say they are "appalled" by a suggestion a second uranium mine could be established on the edge of Kakadu National Park.
For decades, Mirarr traditional owners have objected to the potential mining of the Jabiluka uranium deposit, 275 kilometres east of Darwin.
In 1998 their fight against Energy Resources of Australia's (ERA) mining plans came to a head with an eight-month blockade of the site that involved thousands of protesters.
After becoming ERA's majority shareholder, Rio Tinto promised in 2001 that Jabiluka would not be mined without Mirarr consent.
So when an independent report commissioned by ERA was released this week Mirrar traditional owners were shocked by the assumption that mining could be considered at Jabiluka.
"I've been telling the world about the [Jabiluka] sacred sites for 40 years and still they don't listen," senior traditional owner Yvonne Margarula said.
"We have said no and no means no.
"I stood up with my family and with people from everywhere, all over the world — we all said no."
Corben Madjandi, one of the younger generation of Mirarr traditional owners, echoed that sentiment.
"We don't just say no, we are saying never," he said.
"This report tells me the mining industry is not listening — it's like we're talking to ourselves.
"Are they deaf to us?"
Why was the report commissioned?
ERA ran the Ranger uranium mine, south of the Jabiluka lease, for more than 40 years before shutting down operations in January 2021.
The company is now struggling to pay for the rehabilitation of the mine site which could cost more than $2 billion.
In an effort to raise funds for the clean-up, ERA commissioned accounting firm Grant Thompson to estimate the value of the company's share price.
Its report concluded that the Jabiluka resource and ERA's other, smaller uranium assets were worth between $982 million and $1.2b.
The report acknowledged the Mirarr's long-standing opposition to Jabiluka's development, but said the resource still had "strategic value".
"If the traditional owners approve the development of the Jabiluka mine, it will provide long-term economic benefits to the Mirarr people which could be used to help support their cultural activities and assist in passing their rich and long history to future generations and in sharing it with visitors to the area," the report said.
'Typical' analysis ignores 'realities'
Justin O'Brien, the chief executive of Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, which represents the Mirarr people, says the report "suggests the only issue worth considering is economic benefit".
"[Jabiluka] is a significant cultural and archaeological site of international importance," Mr O'Brien said.
"It's Australia's oldest human occupation site.
"The date of 65,000 years comes from a site inside the mineral lease — that's where they found those stone tools.
"And we've got these [people] from Sydney … applying a typical mining analysis, precluding the political, economic and environmental realities of the situation.
"We have a good relationship with ERA … but if they don't disassociate themselves from the absurdities in this report, we will really have to review our entire relationship with them."
In a statement to ABC Rural, ERA said "the views and statements made in this report are those of the independent expert".
"ERA is committed to delivering world-class rehabilitation of the Ranger project area in partnership with the Mirarr traditional owners," the statement said.
"Jabiluka is subject to a long-term care and maintenance agreement between the Mirarr and ERA.
"This agreement ensures that no development of Jabiluka can occur without the approval of the traditional owners."
Report has blind spots: Rio Tinto
As ERA's major shareholder, Rio Tinto may have to step in to fund the Ranger rehabilitation if ERA cannot find the money.
Rio Tinto said it remained "committed to ensuring the rehabilitation is completed to a standard that will establish an environment similar to the adjacent Kakadu National Park".
"In Rio Tinto's view, the independent valuation report … fails to appropriately recognise the long-standing opposition of the Mirarr people to further uranium mining on their country," the Rio Tinto statement said.
"Rio Tinto understands that this causes distress for the Mirarr elders and community."
Rio Tinto chief executive Australia Kellie Parker said "we believe the successful rehabilitation of the Ranger Project Area, which is of critical importance to the Mirarr people, Rio Tinto and ERA, can be achieved in a way that is consistent with the Mirarr people's wishes".
"This remains our utmost priority and commitment," she said.
"We are again asking the ERA independent board committee to urgently develop a workable plan to fund the increased rehabilitation costs."
