Antinuclear

Energy issues in Australia this week

While there is nothing dramatic to report – that doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.

Uranium. The Australian Uranium Association’s annual Paydirt Conference, in Adelaide, was  sad little affair this year. Poor attendances, schedule cut down from 3 days to one, venue changed from The Hilton to The Intercontinental Hotel.  The star address was by the New Minister for Energy and Resources, Gary Gray. Mr Gray has just discovered that climate change is real.  Gray has been an enthusiastic climate denier until now.  But he has renounced his previous position that climate science was “pop science” and a “middle-class conspiracy to frighten schoolchildren”.    Why? I hear your cry?

Well that’s simple. Australia’s nuclear lobby is pitching nuclear power as the cure for climate change. Well, it wouldn’t be very convincing to promote a cure for a disease that you denied existed, now would it?

Uranium economics.  The Australian Conservation Foundation has produced  a terrific analysis  Exposing the Uranium Industry’s Economic Myth shttp://www.acfonline.org.au/sites/default/files/resources/ACF_Yellowcake_Fever.pdf

Tony Abbott promises to reinvigorate BHP’s massive Olympic Dam project, although BHP has rejected it, and the South Australia government admits that it was over- hyped.

Climate Change and Renewable Energy.  Liberal Ministers of Energy in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria unite in a chorus of climate scepticism, and downgrading of renewable energy . Labor’s  Gary Gray joins in dismissing renewables.  So you see – obeying the fossil fuel/nuclear lobby agenda is not really a party political thing. They are all equally illiterate about energy’s future trends.

Maralinga veterans. Although the UK government has rejected any claim for compensation for Australia’s nuclear veterans, the veterans, many suffering from cancer,  are making an appeal to the  Australian Human Rights Commission, on the illegality of their exposure to atomic radiation in the 1950s and 60s.

Lucas Heights nuclear wastes. Sutherland Council doesn’t want it stored there. Strange that they haven’t thought of the idea of just shutting it down, and not making any more radioactive wastes.

May 3, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina reviews