The week that has been in nuclear, climate, and energy news – Australia
It is hard to resist the temptation to just laugh at Australia’s pathetic politics. I have to keep reminding myself that people laughed at Hitler – but that did not stop him.
Still – we do need to see the lighter side from time to time – if only to keep our spirits up.
So – our revered Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, (already the laughing stock of the world, anyway) has given Australians plenty to chuckle about, in this past week. My favourite is that he’s establishing a Wind Farm Commissioner– to investigate all those diseases caused by wind turbines – all none of them! As Sydney University’s Professor Simon Chapman put it – “This will be a world first commissioner for a non-disease. It’s like having a commissioner into reports of leprechauns”.
To get his legislation through the Senate, Abbott will need to make deals with extreme right-wing maverick politicians. Senators John Madigan, David Leyonhjelm, Bob Day, and my favourite – Jacqui Lambie. They want things like stopping concern about climate change, stopping nasty wind power, getting nice nuclear power, and more nice guns. As Senator Lambie put it “We have got to become world leaders in nuclear. You are dangerously deluded … and you should be locked up, for helping enemies destroy our nation – if you think that wind energy will solve problems”
In more positive news:
- Independent Senators Glenn Lazarus, and Ricky Muir support climate change action.
- Catholic bishops urge action on climate change. (Except Cardinal Pell very quiet these days).
- No more uranium mining in Kakadu National Park, as Rio Tinto pulls the plug on Ranger mine expansion plans.
- Northern Territory’s Environmental Defenders Office will stay open, despite federal funding cut.
- Rooftop solar taking over in South Australia – the test State for Renewable Energy.
- Western Australia’s White Gum Valley project: solar panels with battery storage.
- Canberra’s light rail to be powered by 100% renewable energy.
Australia’s Prime Minister Abbott being manipulated by maverick extreme right wing Senators?
Cross bench starting make demands of Tony Abbott’s government NEWS.COM.AU JUNE 19, 2015 THE cross bench in the Senate has realised its power and is starting to roar. The problem for voters is the Government is listening.
The clutch of independents with minimalist primary votes and huge ambitions want attention to the mishmash of offbeat ideas and prejudices they hold dear.
And if Tony Abbott and his ministers want their support to overcome the combined Labor/Greens bloc, they will have to take some of them seriously. And it’s already happening.
Here are a few of the causes the senators are championing and want action on:
WIND FARMS: Senator John Madigan wants an ombudsman to deal with the complaints against wind farms by those who live nearby. He says he’s not obsessed by the issue, it’s just he doesn’t believe the 25 scientific inquiries which have found the turbines are not health hazards. Prime Minister Abbott, who calls them ugly and noisy, is considering the appointment of a wind farm commissioner. He has not considered a similar appointment to deal with the many more complaints about coal seam gas………….
MORE GUNS: Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm supports same sex marriage. And he wants people to take their firearms to the weddings to help celebrate. After the Lindt Cafe tragedy he urged laws changed to allow Australians to tote more weaponry. “What happened in that cafe would have been most unlikely to have occurred in Florida, Texas, or Vermont, or Alaska in America, or perhaps even Switzerland as well” because “statistically speaking” some of the abducted customers would have been armed. Nobody in Parliament thinks this is a good idea.
GO NUCLEAR: South Australia’s Bob Day is another senator who thinks wind power is dangerous because of what he calls the “harrowing” effects on humans and animals. But he thinks atomic energy is a better proposition and wants Adelaide to build nuclear subs. “One of the major obstacles to Australia considering nuclear submarines has been the absence of a domestic nuclear industry,” fretted the man who considered turbines a threat. http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/cross-bench-starting-make-demands-of-tony-abbotts-government/story-fnu2pwk8-1227406160609
Traditional Aboriginal owners of Muckaty remain vigilant against nuclear waste dumping
Govt still looking for nuclear waste site one year after pursuing Muckaty , SBS News, Today marks one year since the federal government agreed to stop pursuing Muckaty, Northern Territory, as a site to store nuclear waste. By Andrea Booth Source: NITV News
A court case had been battling the issue for nearly 10 years.
The Northern Land Council nominated Muckaty, located 120 kilometres from Tennant Creek, as a site for a dump in 2006 with the Muckaty community to receive a $12 million benefits package. But Warlmanpa and Marumungu people in Muckaty claimed they had not been consulted about the plan.
The threat of a nuclear waste dump on Aboriginal Land continues after the government called for other land owners, councils or organisations to nominate their land for the facility.
The Department of Industry and Science told media this year it remained “committed” to finding a site.
Traditional owners of Muckaty say they feel they must continue to defend their land and culture from nuclear waste. Aunty Jeanie Sambo told NITV News that a nuclear waste dump would destroy them. “It will probably poison [everything] that we live [from], like the animals that we hunt and the river that we drink out of,” she said. “It is not good for us.”
Australia produces nuclear waste and sends it overseas as the country does not yet have its own processing facilities. International agreements require that the processed material be returned to Australia.
Australia has about 5,000 cubic metres of nuclear waste.
Protecting Manawangku was filmed through the lead up to a major rally in Tenant Creek against the proposed dump ..http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/06/19/govt-still-looking-nuclear-waste-site-one-year-after-pursuing-muckaty
Controversial Senators Madigan, Lambie and Leyonhjelm now determining Australia’s Energy Policy?
It seems to be the case of the mad right wagging the tail of the ultra conservative dog on energy policies. Senators Madigan, Lambie and Leyonhjelm all hold controversial views about climate science and wind farms – all being advised by noted long-term anti-wind activists.
Abbott promises to Do Something about wind turbines http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/abbott-promises-to-do-something-about-wind-turbines-24423 By Giles Parkinson on 18 June 2015 The fate of Australia’s renewable energy target – and the wind industry in particular – is once again in the balance, after Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised anti-wind cross-bench Senators that he would take action to restrict or monitor wind farms.
Legislation cutting the RET to 33,000GWh from 41,000GWh had been expected to pass the Senate this week, finally giving the industry some certainty to invest, albeit in a much reduced target.
But Abbott’s refusal to cut a deal with Labor over the controversial issue of native wood waste has seen him turn instead – as predicted two days ago – to the senators who have already decided – like Abbott – that wind farms are ugly, dangerous to health, not very effective, and possibly constitute an act of treason.
Abbott – whose opinions on wind farms have been shaped by advisors who do not accept the science of climate change and his one encounter with a single turbine on Rottnest Island – met with Senator David Leyonhjelm and other cross-benchers this week.
He told the environment minister Greg Hunt – who told a radio station this week that “I know what you mean” when told that a single turbine in his electorate was “ugly” – to draft a letter to the cross benchers, outlining his commitments to get tough on wind farms.
The letter, according the The Guardian, includes a promise to appoint a wind-farm “commissioner” to monitor and act on complaints, an “independent” scientific committee (perhaps like the Warburton RET review) to liase with the Senate inquiry, and an undertaking to act on the Senate inquiry’s recommendations. Continue reading
Rooftop solar taking over in South Australia – the test State for Renewable Energy
Rooftop solar to cut total grid demand to zero in South Australia, 
REneweconomy By Giles Parkinson on 18 June 2015 See also Rooftop solar to overtake coal capacity before 2030
The Australian Energy Market Operator predicts that the growing uptake of rooftop solar by homes and businesses will reduce grid demand in South Australia on certain occasions to zero by 2023, highlighting the rapid change in the nature of energy markets, and the growing shift from centralised baseload generation.
The predictions from AEMO came in its 2015 National Electricity Forecasting Report, released on 
Thursday. It says that the near 575MW of rooftop solar is already accounting for one-third of total grid demand on certain days in the state.
But within a decade this total could treble, pushing minimum demand required from the grid in the whole state to below 0MW (zero) on some occasions in 2023-24, and for several hours at a time by 2024/25 – when AEMO expects 1864MW of rooftop solar.
It says zero demand from the grid could last from 11.30am to 2.30pm local time on some days………..
South Australia will be a test case for Australia, and indeed the world, because of its high level of “variable renewables” such as wind and solar in its energy mix. Continue reading
USA government expected radiological contamination and thyroid cancers as result of Fukushima nuclear disaster
Government Emails Reveal Fukushima Radiation Could Cause Thyroid Cancer to Skyrocket in Americans By J. D. Heyes Global Research, June 19, 2015 Censored and heavily redacted emails [PDF] from U.S. government scientists and officials reveal that there were major concerns among American policymakers shortly after the devastating Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in March 2011 that there would be widespread radiological contamination and spikes in thyroid cancer rates. Continue reading
New White Paper on Northern Australia might undermine Indigenous land rights
Don’t use northern development as ‘Trojan Horse’ to undermine Indigenous land rights, Noel Pearson warns, ABC News By political reporter Anna Henderson, 19 June 15 Influential Cape York Indigenous representative Noel Pearson has warned that development of the north must not be used as a “Trojan Horse” to undermine Indigenous land rights.
The Federal Government has unveiled the northern Australia white paper, a blueprint for policy ideas to develop the sparsely populated region and capitalise on lucrative resources.
The white paper included a section on simplifying land arrangements and a commitment that Indigenous Australians should have the “same opportunities as other Australians to leverage their land assets and generate wealth”.
It also said the Federal Government aimed to have all current native title claims finalised within a decade. Mr Pearson — who attended the Cairns launch of the policy — said the white paper’s reference to expediting native title claims was “certainly welcome”.
“They’re good words,” he said. But he said there have always been concerns that state, territory and federal governments may use the policy to erode progress in the land rights campaign.
The Aboriginal leader also said the policy would not achieve anything if land tenure issues were not addressed…….http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-19/noel-pearson-northern-development-indigenous-land-rights/6558842
South Australia’s Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) ‘determined’ not to fold
Environmental Defenders Office NT to stay open; other jurisdictions enter ‘caretaker’ mode following funding cuts 105.7 ABC Darwin By Emilia Terzon “…. It’s a difficult time but we’re determined to stay open. We will not fold. We will stay open. Melissa Ballantyne, principal lawyer at EDO South Australia
In South Australia, the EDO office is preparing to enter caretaker mode on June 30. Melissa Ballantyne, the principal lawyer at EDO SA for nearly 10 years, said the office had no choice but to “downsize services”, but is still determined to find a benefactor or philanthropic funding.
“It’s a difficult time but we’re determined to stay open. We will not fold. We will stay open,” Ms Ballantyne said.
Caretaker mode will see the EDO SA office managed by an employed office coordinator one day a week, and will provide legal advice from volunteer lawyers. “It means we’ll be offering a very basic service in terms of lawyers providing advice,” Ms Ballantyne said.
Ms Ballantyne said EDO SA was the only environmental legal centre of its kind in the state, providing advice on everything from mining on Aboriginal land through to the controversial Olympic Dam expansion in recent years. “Since the funding cuts, it’s been difficult to do much casework,” Ms Ballantyne said. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-11/edo-nt-to-stay-open-despite-funing-cuts/6558190
Uranium company’s shares down 31%
Uranium Energy (UEC) Stock Declines on Falling Uranium Prices, Low Inventory, The Street, By Tony Owusu 06/19/15 NEW YORK – Uranium Energy (UEC)shares are down 31.29% to $1.66 in morning trading on Friday, just two weeks after the company’s shares surged following its sale of 80,000 pounds of finished uranium for $3.08 million…..Other companies in the sector are also suffering as uranium spot prices have fallen to about $36, a five year low.
Independent Senators Glenn Lazarus and Ricky Muir support Renewable Energy
Glenn Lazarus accuses Government, Labor of ‘dirty deal’ over renewable energy target, ABC News By political correspondent Louise Yaxley ,19 June 15 Independent Queensland senator Glenn Lazarus has accused the Government and Labor of doing a “dirty deal” to reduce the renewable energy target.
The Coalition and Labor have agreed to a new target for renewable energy of 33,000 gigawatt hours down from the existing target of 41,000.
Senator Lazarus supports the higher target. “I cannot and will not be part of this dirty deal that reduces Australia’s renewable energy target (RET) and our country’s commitment to the renewable energy sector,” he told the Senate. “If the Abbott Government and the Opposition are successful in reducing Australia’s renewable energy target, Australia will become the first country in the world to reduce a RET. “I cannot and will not be part of this despicable act.”
Senator Lazarus said the Abbott Government’s reluctance to commit to the RET of 41,000 eroded confidence in the sector, which in turn caused a significant and sharp downturn of investment.
“I can only assume that political donations being made by rich, multi-national mining companies to the pockets of the Coalition is affecting the Federal Government’s decision making,” he said.
Victorian Ricky Muir was a supporter of the higher target, but said the issue dragged on so long while the two big parties negotiated that it had become much harder to achieve that figure. He is now backing the lower target Labor and the Coalition eventually agreed on. “Let’s get it through and restore investor confidence to an industry that employs thousands of people both in my state of Victoria and throughout Australia,” he told the Senate.”http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-18/glenn-lazarus-accuses-government-labor-of-dirty-ret-deal/6554764
Northern Territory’s Environmental Defenders Office will stay open, despite federal funding cut
Environmental Defenders Office NT to stay open; other jurisdictions enter ‘caretaker’ mode following funding cuts 105.7 ABC Darwin By Emilia Terzon The Northern Territory wing of the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) will stay open another year despite Federal Government funding cuts, after holding an Indigenous art auction and receiving an emergency grant.
The news comes as EDOs in other jurisdictions enter caretaker mode, following the loss of $10 million in funding for the nationwide network of environment-focused legal centres.
EDO NT lost $450,000 in funding following a 2013 announcement that EDOs across the country would be completely defunded by July 1, 2015.
Offices in northern Queensland and South Australia are now entering caretaker mode, while the Western Australia office also had its State Government funding entirely withdrawn last month. Continue reading
Solar panels with battery storage: Western Australia’s White Gum Valley project
Green energy for White Gum Valley development ‘an Australian first’, to benefit residents and investors, ABC News By Kathryn Diss, 19 June 15 A new residential complex south of Perth will feature solar panels and battery storage technology, providing financial benefits for tenants and investors.
Landcorp’s White Gum Valley project will include apartments, townhouses, maisonettes and single home sites, housing more than 150 people on the former Kim Beazley school site.
The WA Government said the use of renewable energy technology would cut energy and water bills by about $1,200 a year for tenants in the complex, which will feature a demonstration housing project managed as a strata development………
Overcoming barriers to solar technology Ms Green said the new business model overcomes several barriers which have prevented solar technology from taking off on strata developments.
“Barriers include getting approvals from Western Power, designing the system so that it is compliant with strata laws is really important, and also designing a system which is going to charge no more than what [residents] would pay from Synergy,” she said.
What has been designed here is something that should be affordable to the Gen Y marketplace
Ms Green said the project would be the focus of a four-year study at Curtin University into low carbon living, and is confident it will succeed.
“People are willing to buy apartments that perhaps cost a bit more, but the pay-off is they don’t pay the electricity bill,” Ms Green said………http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-17/green-energy-for-new-white-gum-valley-residents/6553896
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 