Christine Milne calls on progressive industry to counter the fear campaign against renewable energy
Milne interview: Time for progressive industry to stand up REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson 16 April 2012 Newly elected Greens leader Christine Milne says it is time for “progressive industry” to stand up and be counted as the debate over the carbon price and complementary measures such as the Renewable Energy Target, the Clean Energy Finance Corp and other measures takes a worrying course.
The Tasmania Senator said in an interview with RenewEconomy that she plans to paint a vision of a low carbon economy that can thrive beyond the inevitable end of the mining boom, but it essential that progressive companies countered the fear campaign against clean energy policies launched by established industry groups.
“I think (these companies) are wondering if Tony Abbott will win the next election and if he does, and they put their heads above the parapet now, that will somehow deny them access or cache with a Coalition government,” Milne said. “But as I say to them, this is the time to stand up and fight for the frameworks necessary for your business.”
Milne also said she would be closely watching the contents of the Clean Energy Finance Corp, for fear that it’s mandate will be “too conservative.”
Here is an edited transcript of the interview:
……..(Milne) – It is a big challenge. But I think there is a real yearning for someone to articulate a vision for Australia that is beyond the mining boom. I think most people realize that the boom will come to an end, that it is not sustainable to talk about a future for Australia which is just about digging it up, cutting it down and shipping it away, and there’s a level of anxiety about where the jobs will come from, what opportunities will there be for my children, how I will be employed into the future when the mining boom comes to an end. There is a lot of concern that Australia is going the way of other places, with increasing levels of inequality and small numbers are benefiting from the boom enormously and the rest are suffering, and there is not much vision as to how to address that. So I think that at one level it is hard, but at another level there is a yearning to hear that there is a bright future and someone needs to paint it for me…..
….Well, there is a concerted campaign from those who want to destroy renewable energy in Australia who say that now we have a carbon price then we should ditch all complementary measures including the RET. That has been there from the start which is why throughout the negotiation I said we needed a carbon price plus, plus, plus, including the RET and the CEFC and I continue to say that……
What I hear around Australia is that people are really pleased about the Carbon Farming Initiative and the Coalition said it won’t repeal that, it has also said it won’t repeal the RET. ….. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/milne-interview-time-for-progressive-industry-to-stand-up-16436
Christine Milne, new leader of Australian Greens, sets new direction
VIDEO Bright Green future as Milne takes reins http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-14/bright-green-future-as-milne-takes-reins/3950010 Greens leader Christine Milne says her party has a bright future and is bigger than its outgoing leader Bob Brown. Saturday marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Greens, after Friday’s surprise resignation of the party’s founder and leader Bob Brown. Senator Milne has taken over as party leader and Lower House MP Adam Bandt will take over as deputy leader.
AUDIO Greens to take on economic issues under new leader http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-14/greens-to-take-on-economic-issues-under-new-leader/3950112
Radiation danger to miners, and to environment, from uranium mining
the World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledges that Radon, which is a heavy gaseous radioactive chemical, is the second cause of lung cancer after smoking.
Uranium, even when purified, Chareyron said is radioactive and miners cannot really be protected from it.
Concerns over uranium mining New Era, 12 Apr 2012 – by Irene Hoaës 
WINDHOEK – Renewed concern has been expressed regarding uranium mining activities along the coastal areas and its impact on the environment following tests undertaken by the Commission for Independent Research and Information about Radiation (CRIIRAD) and EARTHLIFE Namibia.
These mining activities have a direct bearing on people’s health as they reportedly cause cancer, especially to people that get exposed to them.
According to CRIIRAD, people that spend 30 minutes to 35 hours at a distance below 25 meters from the waste rock dump, would receive an external radiation dose above the trivial dose of 10 microsieverts per year.
One of the main concerns is uranium concentrates found in underground water sources and on sediments in areas where Rössing and the Langer Heinrich mines are found, especially along the Khan and Gawib rivers.
According to Bruno Chareyron, a Nuclear Physics Engineer and Director of the CRIIRAD Laboratory, the radioactive tailings (waste) of the mines are not covered and dust particles from the tailings are accumulating on bushes and slopes.
“When it rains, this dust is even washed off the waste rock dumps that are situated next to the river banks and therefore deposited into the river system,” the nuclear engineer said. Continue reading
Lucas Heights nuclear reactor’s slips and leaks
Radiation leak fear at Sydney’s Lucas Heights as four workmen contaminated, Linda Silmalis The Sunday Telegraph April 15, 2012 FOUR workmen at the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor suffered low-level radiation contamination late last year.
An investigation by the nuclear safety watchdog of the reactor log books to ensure it was meeting its licence conditions has found a rise in the number of contamination events recorded in November and December..
…Two reactor trips were also recorded, while “unusual” water leakage was identified coming from one of the control rods, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency report said…. While the watchdog ticked off the 
operations at the reactor as complying with safety regulations, it recommended the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) consider increasing the level of detail it recorded for events.
It noted a number of events and items of interest that had been recorded in the Reactor Operation Event Management System and log book. “The number of minor contamination events at OPAL has increased recently,” it said..
… OPAL replaces the high flux reactor, which began a $50 million decommissioning phase in 2007. The process is expected to take 10 years, with dismantling of the structure only to begin in 2016 after short-lived radioactive materials in the reactor have decayed. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/radiation-leak-fear-in-sydney/story-e6freuzi-1226326493993
Australia’s generous compensation to citizens, as it brings in the carbon tax
One million Queenslanders to receive extra welfare payments to offset rising costs fuelled by carbon tax by: Steven Scott The Courier-Mail April 14, 2012 “…..New data from the tax office and welfare agencies reveals just under one million Queenslanders will receive some form of extra welfare payments to help offset rising costs fuelled by the carbon tax.
Almost 1.6 million Queenslanders who are likely to earn less than $80,000 next year will get a tax cut. About 1.3 million of those will receive a cut of more than $300 a year. About 121,000 more Queenslanders are likely to pay no income tax next year when the tax-free threshold is tripled as part of the carbon tax compensation package.
As Labor braces for a backlash to the carbon tax, which will take effect on July 1, the Government will roll out increases to pensions with initial lump sums in May and June…. About 675,000 Queensland pensioners will get an extra $338 a year if they are single and up to $510 a year if they are a couple, while 45,000 of the state’s self-funded retirees will get an extra $380 a year.
More than 350,000 families will enjoy boosts to payments, including up to $110 extra a year for each child for families on Family Tax Benefit A and up to $60 a year for those on Family Tax Benefit B…
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/one-million-queenslanders-to-receive-extra-welfare-payments-to-offset-rising-costs-fuelled-by-carbon-tax/story-e6freoof-
Australia’s carbon tax benefits will kick in in May 2012
Carbon tax’s family dividends http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/04/14/318411_tasmania-news.html
DAVID KILLICK | April 14, 2012 HUNDREDS of thousands of Tasmanians will shortly benefit from increased welfare payments and tax cuts under the Federal Government’s new carbon tax regime. Increases in family payments, pensions and benefits will start with lump-sum payments next month, followed by benefit rises which take effect in the new year.
Tax cuts also kick in on July 1 and 14,000 Tasmanians will no longer have to pay tax at all, thanks to a tripling of the tax-free threshold. More than 100,000 Tasmanian pensioners will receive up to $510 a year more in benefits, 44,000 families will get $110 per child and self-funded retirees will be $380 a year better off. Around 17,000 jobseekers will be paid another $218 for singles and $390 for couples, the state’s 8500 single parents will receive $234
more a year and 7500 students will be $218 a year better off. And 179,000 Tasmanians on less than $80,000 a year will receive tax cuts. Continue reading
ERA talking about closure costs for Ranger uranium mine (have they budgeted enough?)
Era adds A$251m to Ranger closure plan By: Esmarie Swanepoel, Mining Weekly, 11th April 2012 PERTH – The CEO of uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (Era), Rob Atkinson on Wednesday told shareholders that the company had increased the provision for the closure of its Ranger mine, in the Northern Territory, from A$314-million to A$565-million, following a desktop review.
At the company’s annual general meeting, Atkinson said that the miner would continue investigating its closure plan during the remainder of 2012…… He noted that the revised plan would support a review of the rehabilitation cost estimate, later this year.
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 