Coalition nuclear stooge MPs line up to push for removing Australia’s prohibition on nuclear activities
Support for nuclear energy heating up across government, SMH, Mike Foley, February 8, 2020 — “……. Coalition MPs have spoken out on nuclear energy as a solution to the need to decarbonise the economy, arguing the government can maintain Australia’s long-held moratorium on nuclear power and take modest steps in early stage research and development of new technologies.
Dr Allen, a paediatrician and medical researcher with a PhD, said “question marks remain” over the potential to use renewables as the sole source to power Australia’s energy grid……
Queensland LNP MP Ted O’Brien, who represents the Fairfax electorate on the Sunshine Coast, chaired a parliamentary committee which last year tabled a report titled Not without your approval: a way forward for nuclear technology, calling for a partial lift in Australia’s 20-year-old nuclear moratorium.
Rather than a total and immediate lift of the moratorium, only a partial lift for new and emerging technologies is proposed, subject to the results of a technology assessment and a commitment to community consent as a condition of approval for nuclear facilities,” it said.
Mr O’Brien said without lifting the moratorium the government could commission assessments recommended by his committee into “economic, technological and readiness assessments” for nuclear energy.
Among the Coalition MPs on the government-dominated committee who endorsed the report were Trent Zimmerman, from inner-city electorate North Sydney, Bridget Archer from Bass in northern Tasmania, Nationals MP for Lyne David Gillespie, West Australian MP Rick Wilson and North Queensland Nationals MP Keith Pitt, who was this week promoted to cabinet as Resources Minister.
Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has also promoted nuclear energy.
However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Energy Minister Angus Taylor have said they’re not considering lifting the nuclear moratorium due to lack of bipartisan support for nuclear energy.
Mr Taylor said the government is “taking the time to thoroughly consider the [committee’s] recommendations” and it had “no plans to lift the longstanding moratorium”.
Advocates argue nuclear power production costs can fall with new technology, highlighting the emerging technology of small to medium-sized reactors. However, there are no commercial examples of the new technology in operation.
Labor MPs issued a dissenting report which said the inquiry heard from experts who argued renewable energy offered better prospects to replace fossil fuels and the safety record of nuclear energy made it too risky to consider.
“In fact the events [like Fukushima], innovations and advances in renewable energy, and emerging climate and energy system developments of the last ten years have made nuclear power even less relevant and appropriate in the Australian context at a time when nuclear power is already in decline elsewhere,” the report said. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/support-for-nuclear-energy-heating-up-across-government-20200207-p53yru.html
Liberal MP Katie Allen touts nuclear energy for Australia
Katie Allen, a government member of parliament (MP) representing inner-city Melbourne, wrote in a column for Nine Entertainment newspapers that Australia has an opportunity to lead the way on developing “safer and more effective” nuclear energy.
Australia has had a blanket moratorium on nuclear energy for 20 years, but a parliamentary committee chaired by coalition MP Ted O’Brien in December tabled a report calling for it to be partially lifted…….
In December, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Angus Taylor, the minister for energy and emissions reduction, declared that they were not considering exploring nuclear options.
Any move to lift the moratorium would require the support of the opposition Labor Party, which has previously declared an anti-nuclear stance.
The report from December said that a partial lift would allow the government to conduct recommended “economic, technological and readiness assessments” for nuclear energy.
“Rather than a total and immediate lift of the moratorium, only a partial lift for new and emerging technologies is proposed, subject to the results of a technology assessment and a commitment to community consent as a condition of approval for nuclear facilities,” it said. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/08/c_138765779.htm
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall visiting Eyre Peninsula, keeping a very low profile on nuclear wastes
Zali Steggall , independent MP for Warringah, luring Liberals towards climate action
A matter of conscience’: Zali Steggall unveils plans for climate change act, https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/02/10/zali-steggall-plans-climate-change-act/ Samantha Maiden She stole Tony Abbott’s blue-ribbon seat out from under the Liberal Party’s nose and now Zali Steggall is hoping to lure party dissidents to cross the floor and vote for climate change action.
|
The legislation is modelled on the UK’s Climate Change Act and is designed to provide a national framework for action and mandatory annual reporting of Australia’s trajectory towards meeting reduction targets. “We need to set out a road map for Australia to become a low-carbon economy without all the fear-mongering and misinformation,” Ms Steggall said. “The big question all sensible Australians are asking is how? This is why we need a climate change act to set out a legislative framework.” |
|
Private investors won’t touch new Coalition-backed coal plant, Labor says
Private investors won’t touch new Coalition-backed coal plant, Labor says, Morrison government to spend up to $4m in grant for feasibility study into coal-fired power plant in Queensland, Guardian, Australian Associated Press, Sat 8 Feb 2020 The federal Labor opposition says private investors will not touch “with a barge pole” the Morrison government’s plan to support a coal-fired power plant in Queensland.
The government says it will spend up to $6m in grants for two new Queensland electricity generation projects, including a coal-fired power plant, as part of a bid to lower power prices……..
Labor’s climate change and energy spokesman, Mark Butler, said private investors would not touch a new coal-fired power station “with a barge pole”.
“The government still has no energy policy – just ideological flights of fantasy,” he said in Adelaide on Saturday. The private investment sector had made it very clear it had no appetite for building expensive coal-fired power stations, he said.
Coalition hands out $4 million to pursue new coal generator in Queensland — RenewEconomy
First move by new pro-coal resources minister Keith Pitt is to team up with Angus Taylor to announce $4 million grant to pursue new coal generator in north Queensland. The post Coalition hands out $4 million to pursue new coal generator in Queensland appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Coalition hands out $4 million to pursue new coal generator in Queensland — RenewEconomy
Stockland taps CEFC finance to ramp up solar, battery, efficiency roll-out — RenewEconomy
Australian property group set to roll out another 11MW commercial solar, this time across its logistics business, with help of $75m CEFC senior debt facility. The post Stockland taps CEFC finance to ramp up solar, battery, efficiency roll-out appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Stockland taps CEFC finance to ramp up solar, battery, efficiency roll-out — RenewEconomy
Redflow batteries to help slash costs, beat heat at outback cattle station — RenewEconomy
Solar plus 40kWh Redflow zinc-bromine flow batteries allow outback W.A. cattle station to operate completely off-grid, save $10,000 a year in diesel costs, and keep workers cool. The post Redflow batteries to help slash costs, beat heat at outback cattle station appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Redflow batteries to help slash costs, beat heat at outback cattle station — RenewEconomy
Victorian govt Nuclear Inquiry – published Submissions
First published results on the Inquiry website are strongly ANTI-NUCLEAR. But we must remember that there could be many confidential submissions, that we don’t know about.
PRO nuclear
1. Don Hampshire
2 Robert Heron – vaguely
3 Terje- Petesen
116 Leah McDermott
122 Simon Brink
123 CFMMEU Mining and Energy Division
ANTI nuclear
4 Jessica Lawson
5 Pro Forma list of 122 contributors probably anti-nuclear
48 Jaznet Nixon 49 Karen Furniss
63 Graeme Tyschsen
68 Barbara Devine
76 Vivien Smith
77 Lachklan Dow
81 RVS Industries
92 Alan Hewett and Joan Jones
103 Anne Wharton
106 John Quiggin vague
107 Amy Butcher
109 Nick Pastalatzis
112 Philip White
see https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/epc-lc/article/4348 -to read the submissions
Antinuclear 