Aboriginal people distrust new Northern Australia white paper – with good reason
“the conversation should be driven by Aboriginal people, not by the government, and the “devil was in the detail”. “We’ve got to be careful when we look at these words in the white paper that they’re not code for winding back Aboriginal informed consent in those property rights,”
Northern Australia white paper: native title proposals met with distrust, Guardian, Helen Davidson 20 June 15 ‘It’s disturbing to suggest that Aboriginal people have either got to surrender their native title or extinguish it to be able to have … a typical western form of title,’ Indigenous leader Joe Morrison says. Changes to native title flagged in the federal government’s white paper on northern Australia are being met with reserved distrust by Indigenous council leaders.
The $1.2bn plan to tap the potential of the north was released on Thursday and included proposals to “simplify” land arrangements in the region, where large sections of land are held under native title or by Indigenous groups. Continue reading
Developing North Australia – at the expense of Aboriginal land rights?
If governments want to work in a “full partnership” with Aboriginal people in The North then they must stop treating their interests in land as something to be dealt with for the convenience of those governments and the powerful interests behind them.Abbott’s white paper for the black tropics: Boon or boondoggle? Crikey,
BOB GOSFORD | JUN 19, 2015 “………Aboriginal people are the fastest-growing demographic, at current rates of population growth, half of the North’s population will be blackfellows by 2050.
So how are Aboriginal interests treated in Developing North Australia? This is the ‘horrid’ part. At page 4 of Developing North Australia we are told that:
Developing the north will need to be done in full partnership with Indigenous Australians, with a focus on creating opportunities through education, job creation and economic development. These opportunities for Indigenous Australians will contribute to achieving the objectives of the Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy.
Noble sentiments but a reliance on the vexed Indigenous Advancement Strategy rings out some very loud warning bells. The first chapter is entitled “Simpler Land Arrangements to Support Investment” and some elements of the plan are welcome–particularly the fast-tracking of outstanding native title claims for resolution within the next ten years, increased funding for native title representative bodies and modest increased support for indigenous ranger groups and pastoral land use pilot projects. A streamlining of the needlessly complex native title Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA) processes, which should be simplified to resemble the standard lease arrangements used widely by the NT land councils, is also welcome.
Overall though, the approach to Aboriginal land interests in Developing North Australia appears very much to be one of “you’ve got something and we want it back.”
This is particularly apparent in the emphasis on “township leasing” that will see control of Aboriginal land in townships–by far the most commercially valuable land in the Aboriginal estate–controlled of a Commonwealth bureaucracy and measures to “cut red tape” around hard-won cultural heritage protections. The old saw of “Aboriginal home ownership”–creating housing markets in communities largely reliant on welfare income and where no market exists–also gets a run. Continue reading
Senator Jacqui Lambie delights the Abbott govt, with her pro nuclear and anti-climate action call
Coalition applauds Lambie’s climate denying, pro-nuclear rant http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/coalition-applauds-lambies-climate-denying-pro-nuclear-rant-71184 By Giles Parkinson on 17 June 2015
The speech from Lambie was made in debate over the proposal to cut the renewable energy target to 
33,000GWh from 41,000GWh. Lambie said it was excellent to cut the target, because renewable energy (other than hydro) could not support an industrialised economy.
Instead, she said, the only way for “cheap, decarbonised” power, was to push for nuclear energy. ”We have got to become world leaders in nuclear,” Lambie said.“You are worse than deluded. 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,” Lambie said. Continue reading
Minerals Council of Australia seem to be ignorant of basic economics
Dennis Matthews, 19 June 15 Support by the Minerals Council of Australia for fossil fuels comes as no surprise, nor does their apparent ignorance of the difference between the Conservation Council of SA (CCSA) and the (Australian) Conservation Foundation (ACF) but it is of concern that they seem to be ignorant of basic economics (The Advertiser, 18/6/15).
Rooftop solar electricity has gone from strength to strength in a classic case of increased demand leading to decreased price. All solar electricity needed was the ability to compete with entrenched fossil fuels. This was done through the Renewable Energy Target , which was an acknowledgement that fossil fuels had pollution derived hidden costs.
The worldwide acknowledgement of these hidden costs is now putting fossil fueled power stations on the endangered list, especially in countries that have “developed” by ignoring the cost of pollution.
Similar advances can be made by addressing other aspects of electricity demand, such as solar hot water or more energy efficient buildings.
ANZ leads big four bank exposure to fossil fuel industry
A new report finds that Australia’s big four banks have almost $37 billion in loan exposures to the fossil fuel sector.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-18/anz-leads-big-four-bank-exposure-to-fossil-fuels/6556330
Victorian government concerned about Abbott’s anti wind energy position
Victoria baffled by Prime Minister’s comments on wind turbines http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-16/wind-energy-turbine-investment-in-victoria/6550822 Vic Country Hour By James Jooste The Victorian Labor Government says it will be a “one stop shop” for investment in renewable energy by building more wind farms across the state.
But recent efforts by the State Government to underwrite Victoria’s energy production with renewables has been stifled by a reduction in the Renewable Energy Target (RET) to 33,000 gigawatt hours by 2020 and negative comments by the Prime Minister.
Victorian Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said recent remarks by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, where he called wind turbines “visually awful”, were sending mixed messages to industry.
“Well I think people we’ll be looking very curiously and saying, ‘Well where does the Federal Government stand in terms of renewable energy and climate change?'” he said.
The State Government wants to scrap section 7c of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act which prevents states fromreinstating independent targets for renewable energy.
Greenpeace warns of legal showdown over charitable tax status
Greenpeace has warned of a legal challenge to any moves to strip environmental groups of their charitable status. (subscribers only)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/greenpeace-warns-of-legal-showdown-over-charitable-tax-status/story-fn59nsif-1227401137358
Federal Bill to change powers of Australia’s nuclear watchdog, ARPANSA
Nuclear watchdog’s powers strengthened AAP http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/06/18/10/08/nuclear-watchdog-s-powers-strengthened The federal government is strengthening the powers of its nuclear safety watchdog.
A bill introduced by Health Minister Sussan Ley on Thursday updates the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency in line with international and local reviews.
The agency regulates Commonwealth bodies that use radiation.
These include CSIRO, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and Defence in operations ranging from baggage X-ray machines at airports to a research reactor at Lucas Heights.
Ms Ley said the changes would give the agency greater powers to monitor compliance and act in an emergency.
They would also give it a clear legal basis to oversee the safety of contaminated sites.
Investors flee Energy Resources of Australia as its uranium mining plans stop
ERA shares in death spiral as prospects slashed, SMH, June 15, 20 Peter Ker The uranium miner operating beside Kakadu National Park may have zero chance of restarting mining at the site, according to UBS analyst Glyn Lawcock.
Speaking after shares in Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) lost more than 48 per cent of their value on Friday, Mr Lawcock said the decision to abandon plans for an expansion of the Ranger mine warranted a downgrading of the stock to a “sell” rating.
Many ERA shareholders were doing just that on Monday, with the stock falling a further 25.4 per cent or 17¢ to close at 50¢.
ERA shares were worth $1.29 at market close on Thursday, prior to ERA announcing that it would not go ahead with an underground expansion at the Ranger mine. That expansion, called “Ranger 3 Deeps”, was the only chance of future mining at Ranger, where mining of the third pit ceased in 2011……
Rio Tinto has offered to cover the shortage of funds to complete the rehabilitation, but it is believed that offer is conditional on ERA ruling out any further development at Ranger, something ERA is not yet willing to do……
The funding shortfall for the rehabilitation is believed to be close to $200 million, although Mr Drew speculated it could be as high as $500 million.
Uranium prices have been depressed since the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in March 2011, and that weakness was one of the major reasons why the underground expansion was abandoned….http://www.smh.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/era-shares-in-death-spiral-as-prospects-slashed-20150615-gho6jg.html
Port Augusta the right place for concentrated solar power
Ingo Weber: After Alinta, here’s a new future for Port Augusta, Adelaide Advertiser, 15 June 15 IN Australia air pollution kills more than double the number of people who die in road deaths. We need to change our dependency on coal, and Port Augusta is the place to start.
There are at least two large international companies currently building concentrated solar thermal power plants (in Spain and the US) keen to build CST right here and now in Port Augusta. We just need political vision.(subscribers only) http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/ingo-weber-port-augusta-ideal-for-a-solar-powered-future/story-fni6unxq-1227400879688
Asia Pacific Greens Federation Congress condemns Australia’s backward action on climate chnage
Delegates expressed strong opposition to plans to roll out more nuclear power stations in Korea, Japan and Taiwan, and sought the help of Greens parties worldwide in that effort. All want greater efforts in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Greens are well placed to break through and win seats in upcoming elections in Korea and Taiwan……..
Just as corporations are global, so too the Greens are a global force
Christine Milne: Australia ‘universally condemned’ at regional Greens meeting, Guardian 15 June 15 Too often, the concerns of Pacific Island nations are jettisoned in favour of bigger nations’ interests. The Asia Pacific Greens congress aims to change that . Green parties around the world have been working for decades to address global warming. Australia’s Pacific Island neighbours are already suffering extreme weather events, storm surges, and adverse impacts on their health and livelihoods, with their ability to grow food constrained by salt water incursion into fresh water lenses. At every UN climate meeting they ask for help, and in spite of all the sympathetic talk, their concerns are jettisoned in favour of national sovereignty arguments from more powerful nations like Australia. This has to change. Continue reading
Australian Greens want Senate inquiry into fossil fuel money to political parties and lobby groups
Greens mount fossil fuel donations hunt http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/greens-mount-fossil-fuel-donations-hunt/story-fni0xqi4-1227400237377AAP
JUNE 16, 2015 THE Greens are going on a fossil fuel hunt to track down how much influence the industry wields over Australian politics.
THE minor party wants the Senate to look into what donations fossil fuel companies make to the major political parties and tax-free campaigns run by associated lobby groups.
Environment spokeswoman Larissa Waters said an existing parliamentary inquiry into tax-free donations to environmental groups was a witch-hunt and it was time questions were asked on the other side.
Oil and Gas industry claims against environmental groups
Environmental groups ‘subsidise illegal activity’, oil and gas industry claims, The Age June 17 Heath Aston, political correspondent Environmental groups have been accused by the oil and gas industry of “subsidising illegal activity and activism”.
The government register that provides tax-deductible status for donations to groups like WWF and Greenpeace may have been “subverted” by some groups to channel money into illegal protests, according to the industry.
Groups that specialise in training protesters to take part in mining blockades are also qualifying for charity status through “affiliation” to groups listed on the register of environmental organisations overseen by the federal Environment Department.
The claims are contained in a submission to the Senate inquiry into the tax-deductible status of environmental groups, which held its first public hearing on Tuesday, by the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association……..http://www.theage.com.au/national/environmental-groups-subsidise-illegal-activity-oil-and-gas-industry-claims-20150616-ghphrm.html
AGL’s Utility-scale Solar Photovoltaic plants in New South Wales
Utility-scale PV in Australia: AGL’s 102 MW Nyngan solar plant achieves full generation Solar Server 15 June 15 AGL Energy Limited (AGL, St Leonards, North Sydney Council, Australia) on June 9th, 2015 confirmed that the Nyngan solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in western New South Wales (NSW) has achieved full generation, sending 102 MW of solar power into the National Electricity Market.
The 250 hectare Nyngan PV plant together with its sister solar plant in Broken Hill, will have a combined capacity of 155 MW, bolstering AGL’s credentials as the largest ASX-listed owner, operator and developer of renewable energy generation in Australia. In the last decade AGL has invested more than USD 3 billion in renewable energy projects.
AGL Project Manager for both the Nyngan and Broken Hill Solar Plants, Adam Mackett, said the team has been working very closely with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and local distributor Essential Energy (EE) to make sure testing and commissioning was satisfactory to enable 100 percent generation. Largest utility-scale solar PV plant ever built in Australia
AGL’s 140 hectare Broken Hill plant has also reached a significant construction milestone, with 35 percent of the 650,000 solar PV modules installed……..
“This new Australian record sends a strong signal to the energy industry that utility-scale solar PV plants can be constructed on time and on budget,” said Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) CEO Ivor Frischknecht, adding, “ARENA is pleased to support this landmark project, which will greatly increase market confidence in future solar PV projects, bringing down the cost of planning, construction and finance.”……
Nyngan and Broken Hill PV plants to produce 360,000 megawatt hours of solar power annually……..AGL will deliver the solar plants in partnership with local councils and communities, project partner First Solar, as well ARENA and the NSW Government. http://www.solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/current/2015/kw25/utility-scale-pv-in-australia-agls-102-mw-nyngan-solar-plant-achieves-full-generation.html
Electricity utilities scramble now to embrace domestic solar and storage systems
Energy companies embracing domestic solar and storage systems in scramble to protect profits, ABC News 14 June By business reporter Stephen Letts The battle lines in the fight to power the nation are rapidly being redrawn as the emergence of domestic solar and storage systems have forced the big utilities to scramble to protect their shrinking fiefdoms.
Six months ago, the big three power companies – AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia – were spending considerable time and resources fighting to have both large and small scale Renewable Energy Targets (LRET and SRES) either cut or abolished.
In the past few weeks the rhetoric has been all about the lucrative growth opportunities for their small residential solar businesses.
Both the big listed Australian utilities – AGL and Origin – have told their recent investor briefings that their traditional businesses in the National Electricity Market (NEM) do not exactly have bright prospects.
Coal fired generation in decline; demand and prices hit Continue reading
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20 September –National Day of Action in Melbourne on the International Day of Peace
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