A little healthy nuclear paranoia in Australia
I am quite conservative at heart, and I dislike conspiratorial thinking.
BUT – it’s a worry to me that in Australia negotiations and decisions on matters nuclear are so secret. It is appropriate to have a little healthy paranoia about this.
NUCLEAR WASTES: This week, we learn that the USA administration is negotiating with several countries, for the leasing of uranium, with the radioactive wastes to be returned to the country that sold the uranium. This is under the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Co-operation, (IFNEC), of which Australia is a member Today, we learn that President Obama is to visit Australia, following a November 12-13 APEC leaders’ meeting in Hawaii. In January, Obama’s Blue Ribbon Commission on the solution to nuclear waste is to announce its decision.
BHP BILLTION’S PLANNED EXPANSION OF OLYMPIC DAM URANIUM MINE. In the The State of South Australia, uranium policy is run by loyal BHP Billiton vassals – Mike Rann, Tom Koutsantonis, Kevin Foley . They are about to push through changes to the Roxby Downs Indenture Act – meaning that BHP will have even more open slather for the uranium mine than they already have.
One might hope that the Australian Government would have some say in this, under The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act or under Water legislation. But now, we learn today that the Australian government is moving to allow some projects to require approval only from the State government. Is this going to make it still easier for those narrow-visioned South Australian politicians to just effectively rubber-stamp the largest environmentally destructive project ever undertaken in Australia – the Olympic Dam open cut uranium mine? – Christina Macpherson
Australian federal government abdicating its role in environmental protection?
States get a bigger say on the environment, The Age, Tom Arup, August 25, 2011, THE Gillard government has rolled out a business-friendly overhaul of national environment laws, boosting the states’ role in approving or rejecting controversial new projects like pulp mills and mines…….
Under the reforms the Commonwealth will seek deals with the states that would mean most projects would need either state or federal environmental approval, not both….
Australian National University environmental legal expert Andrew Macintosh said yesterday the proposal had to ensure adequate protection of national environmental assets and ”leave an opening for the Commonwealth to intervene where the national interest is threatened by parochial state interests”.
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s Dr Paul Sinclair said delegating power to the states to approve projects would be a backwards step, adding “if business wants a one-stop shop, it must be a federal shop”..….
opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt. Mr Hunt yesterday welcomed the proposed reforms and said the Coalition was broadly supportive.
Greens environment spokeswoman Larissa Waters said she was disappointed the reforms did not include measures to consider a project’s carbon emissions and impact of water resources…http://www.theage.com.au/national/states-get-a-bigger-say-on-the-environment-20110824-1ja8n.html
Friends of the Earth write to South Australian politicians about Roxby Downs Indenture Act
exemptions from the Environmental Protection Act (1993) are of particular concern. The exclusion of this Act means that the Olympic Dam mine is not subject to the same environmental regulatory framework as other industrial projects in South Australia, and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which administers the Act, is excluded from its monitoring role. BHP’s environmental performance is instead the responsibility of the Minister for Mineral Resources Development, who, based on BHP’s own reports, has full discretion to approve or reject programmes for the management and rehabilitation of the environment, without any obligation to consult with other agencies. Given the Ministers role in promoting mining in SA, this arguably amounts to a conflict of interest.
Re: ROXBY DOWNS INDENTURE ACT
Dear
The Roxby Downs Indenture Act is currently the subject of negotiations between the SA Government and BHB Billiton, owner of the Olympic Dam copper/uranium mine. We expect that in the near future amendments will beintroduced into parliament extending the operation of the Act to the proposed Olympic Dam expansion.
Friends of the Earth is concerned that indefensible legal privileges in the Indenture Act will be retained in the context of the proposed mine expansion, including exemptions and overrides from the SA Aboriginal Heritage Act1988, the Environmental Protection Act 1993, the Freedom of Information Act 1991, and the Natural Resources Act 2004. Continue reading
The Hypocrisy of BHP king, Marius Kloppers, on carbon and environment
In October 2010, BHP CEO Marius Kloppers, came out virtuously with support for a carbon price in Australia. But today THE AUSTRALIAN reports that Mr Kloppers told British journalists that Australia’s carbon tax was “an econ0mic deadweight cost”.
Why does Kloppers contradict himself? Well, as a loyal highly paid servant of the corporation, he sees his job as to say anything that makes BHP look good. The truth is irrelevant. In 2010, Kloppers was promoting uranium, nuclear and the Olympic Dam mine expansion, (and he still is) – as solutions to climate change, as BHP’s coal interests are mainly overseas.
Also today, Peter Ker in The Age, reports on Kloppers’ enthusiasm for
“low carbon” energy. “Low carbon” is now the code word to replace “renewable energy” – when what you really mean is “nuclear energy” . Nuclear energy is neither low carbon, nor renewable. But “low carbon” suggests truly clean energy sources, renewable energy
As to Kloppers and BHP caring about climate change, or environmental safety, BHP has started deep water oil exploration drilling in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Kloppers is not answering questions on this one.
Demand for uranium just keeps falling
Uranium Producers Show Lackluster Growth. The Bedford Report Provides Equity Research on Cameco and Uranium Resources Market watch NEW YORK, NY, Aug 25, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –– The uranium market has slowed to a halt in recent weeks amid continued uncertainty surrounding the global nuclear energy industry. Meanwhile, uranium producers are posting lackluster results as demand for the radioactive material slows. The Bedford Report examines the outlook for companies in the Uranium Sector….
Last week Uranium Resources said its second-quarter net loss widened on higher expenses, building inventories and softer prices in the wake of the Japan nuclear crisis. The company cited higher expenses because of higher reclamation activities in Texas, costs associated with a feasibility study at its Church Rock, N.M., site and financing to collaterize financial obligations.
Earlier this month Cameco reported a 23 percent drop in quarterly profit as sales volumes fell, and it lowered its industry outlook in the wake of Japan’s nuclear disaster…http://www.marketwatch.com/story/uranium-producers-show-lackluster-growth-2011-08-25?reflink=MW_news_stmp
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 
