Abstract:

The Ranger Agreement signed in 1978 is the first agreement about the development of uranium in the aboriginal land in the history of Australia. As the result of the pressure that aboriginals received from the Commonwealth government and the mining interest groups, the Agreement reflects the increasing clearness of the standpoint and policy of the Commonwealth government on developing uranium, and the ambition of the mining interest groups to “lawfully” develop mines in aboriginal owned land under the name of “national interest”. Meanwhile, it mirrors the fragility and fuzziness of aboriginal land ownership. However, it shall be admitted that it has set an example in carrying out a comprehensive investigation on environmental disruption and other problems caused by the development of uranium as well as their countermeasures.