Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

“A Trojan horse for communism!” More big batteries head for review as familiar long distance objectors pile in again

 Another two big battery projects in New South Wales are destined to head
to the state’s independent panel for review after being swamped with
letters of opposition, almost entirely from long distance opponents –
many of them familiar and serial objectors.

The 200 megawatt (MW), 800
megawatt hour (MWh) Romani battery project near Booroorban in the
south-west of the state and the 100 MW, 870 MWh Ebor battery project in the
north of the state, have both attracted more than 60 submissions opposing
their projects as they work their way through state planning approvals.


Once the numbers objections reach 50, a project must be sent for review by
the Independent Planning Commission even if – as is often the case –
there are no submissions against the proposal from the local area.

There is a familiar theme. Big batteries are a “Trojan Horse for communism”,
writes one anonymous objector in full caps, in a claim echoed in several
other letters opposing both the Ebor and Romani batteries. The term
“Renewabulls”, also often written in full caps, is also repeated in
multiple letters, as does a variation of that term “Ruinabull”. Another
common theme is the claimed use of diesel generators to help cool the
batteries.

 Renew Economy 24th Aug 2026, https://reneweconomy.com.au/a-trojan-horse-for-communism-more-big-batteries-head-for-review-as-familiar-long-distance-objectors-pile-in-again/

August 27, 2026 Posted by | energy | Leave a comment

UK Cabinet Office declines to share information it holds about PM’s nuke orders options

Tom Pashby, Aug 26, 2026, https://tompashby.substack.com/p/cabinet-office-declines-to-share?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=6735486&post_id=212821041&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ln98x&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

The Cabinet Office has confirmed to 20 Working Days that it holds information regarding what options the Prime Minister has in terms of the orders they can give to nuclear-armed submarine captains in their ‘Letters of last resort’, but said it is withholding the information.

It is widely understood that one of the first tasks a Prime Minister has on walking through the door to Number 10 Downing Street is writing the letters to the captains of Trident submarines – the UK’s continuous-at-sea-deterrent.

The letters are written so that, if communications are not possible between the submarine and the wider military and political command and control structure, the submarine captains are able to find out what they should do by reading the pre-written letters which are believed to be sealed until they are needed.

The existence of the letters was confirmed by the MOD in an internal review of a FOI request in 2015. The results of the internal review were addressed to a Mr D Black.

In 2016, just before Theresa May took over the role from David Cameron, the Guardian reported: “The options are said to include the orders “Put yourself under the command of the US, if it is still there”; “Go to Australia”; “Retaliate”; or “Use your own judgment”.”

On 4 July 2026, using the FOI Act, 20 Working Days asked the MOD to share “any documents which show whether the options include the orders ‘Put yourself under the command of the US, if it is still there’; ‘Go to Australia’; ‘Retaliate’; or ‘Use your own judgment’,” as per the reporting in the Guardian.

In response, on 16 July, the MOD said: “As the letters are administered by the Cabinet Office, you may wish to approach them regarding […] what options the letters might contain.”

On the same day, 20 Working Days put that question to the Cabinet Office.

On 17 August, the Cabinet Office responded and said: “We are writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, we have established that the information you requested is held by the Cabinet Office.

“Information you have requested is exempt under section 24(1) of the Freedom of Information Act. Section 24 exempts information from disclosure if its exemption is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security.”

It added that “Section 24 is a qualified exemption and we have considered whether the balance of the public interest favours releasing or withholding this information”, and confirmed “we have determined that the balance of the public interest favours withholding this Information”.

The Cabinet Office was approached for comment.

August 27, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment