Reckless and radioactive: Ranger uranium project must close
Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues, Senator Scott Ludlam. 9 December 2013. Today in senate question time, Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam asked the Environment Minister’s representative about the massive spill of 1.4 million litres of radioactive acid at the Ranger Uranium Mine.
In response to the Government’s feeble and evasive answers, Senator Ludlam has submitted a detailed log of questions to Commonwealth environmental regulators and has called for the closure of the mine.
“The Minister representing the Environment Minister played down the events over the weekend and the on-going leakage and contamination problems at the Ranger mine.
“In fact this mine has an atrocious track record with more than 150 spills, leaks and license breaches since it opened in 1981. Just a few weeks ago a contaminated vehicle was somehow allowed out of the site. In 2004 workers drank and showered in water laced with uranium. I revealed through Senate Estimates that water with uranium concentrations 5400 times background and a cocktail of other radionuclides are seeping from beneath the tailings dam at Ranger.
“This mine must halt operations until an independent assessment can be completed. In addition, there should be there should be no handing over of federal powers to assess and approve uranium mining projects to state or Territory governments.
“ERA and its hapless regulators must now bring forward plans for the orderly closure of this mine, and entertain no further proposals for extending the life of this clapped out mine.”
Senator Ludlam’s Question Without Notice in Question Time today:http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/questions-without-notice/questions-asked-about-1-million-litres-radioactive-acid-spilled-ran
Senator Ludlam’s Question on Notice to the Environment Minister:http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/questions-notice/detailed-questions-nuclear-disaster-ranger-uranium-mine
Aboriginal opposition is likely to finish off Ranger uranium project
Major uranium leak endangers Kakadu – but played down Indymedia Australia, 9 Dec 13;Gerry Georgatos – courtesy of The Stringer –http://thestringer.com.au/ – A million litres of radioactive slurry has contaminated Kakadu National Park from a burst tank at Ranger uranium mine. It is a significant toxic accident but it has surprisingly generated relatively minimal news coverage. It took the local Traditional Owners to break the news to Australia.
Unease in share market over ERA’s Ranger uranium mine
it is unclear whether the [Rio Tinto]current leadership, which last month announced the closure of the loss-making Gove Alumina Refinery in the Northern Territory, will continue to show such strong support for a struggling mine with so many environmental and indigenous issues.
ERA shares facing pressure over uranium leak, SMH, Peter Ker, December 9, 2013 Rio Tinto’s hopes of reviving its majority-owned Ranger uranium mine have been dealt another blow by the leak of toxic substances on Saturday….
… Shares in the Rio Tinto subsidiary that operates the mine – Energy Resources of Australia – are traded on the ASX and may come under pressure on Monday morning as federal and Northern Territory regulators conduct investigations.
Processing of uranium has been halted on site until the clean-up and testing can be completed and, with some fearing that halt could last weeks, the market will be keen to know if ERA will need to buy uranium on the market to ensure it can meet its supply contracts.
ERA shares have traded around $1.30 over the past five to six weeks and most of the value in the stock is attached to hopes of starting a new underground uranium mine beneath the Ranger pits, which ceased mining last year after more than three decades.
The underground development is still being explored and will face a heavy load of approvals before it is allowed to proceed. Continue reading
US corporations can see Trans-Pacific Partnership text, but Australian Senate can’t!
Secrecy surrounds Trans-Pacific Partnership talks : http://www.smh.com.au/national/secrecy-surrounds-transpacific-partnership-talks-20131208-2yzea.html#ixzz2n02wqzej December 9, 2013 Peter Martin Economics correspondent The government has refused the Senate access to the secret text of the trade deal it is negotiating in Singapore, saying it will only be made public after it has been signed.
As the final round of ministerial talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership resumed on Sunday, Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz wrote to each of the 12 
participating nations warning that the deal and the secrecy surrounding it presented ”grave risks”.
Australia’s delegate, Trade Minister Andrew Robb, has told Fairfax Media he is prepared to agree to so-called ”investor-state dispute settlement provisions” in return for access to markets including those of the US, Japan and Canada.
The provisions, rejected by the previous Labor government, allow foreign corporations to sue sovereign governments. Continue reading
Doubts on the future of ERA’s Ranger uranium project
Investigation as radioactive leak leaves Ranger uranium mine under a cloud SMH, Lucy Battersby and Peter Ker December 9, 2013 The future of Australia’s oldest uranium mine is under renewed scrutiny, after a tank holding more than a million litres of radioactive slurry burst at the weekend, sparking a federal investigation.
The accident prompted traditional land owners to describe the Ranger uranium mine as a ”hillbilly operation” with too little regulation. The mine has a history of safety breaches and unions have raised concerns about maintenance standards at the 33-year-old operation…… Continue reading
Lucas Heights reactor medical Isotopes
1998 Both ANSTO and the government have sought to cloak rational discussion about the costs and benefits of a reactor under a dishonest claim that the reactor is vital for nuclear medicine. In fact medical isotopes can be easily obtained from a global market which already supplies many Australian hospitals.
a senior government bureaucrat who was quoted on the same ABC radio program saying: “The government decided to push the whole health line, and that included appealing to the emotion of people. … So it was reduced to one point, and an emotional one at that. They never tried to argue the science of it, the rationality of it”.ABC radio on March 29, 1998
The medical isotope rhetoric has become so implausible that the government is itself backing away from it. The parliamentary Public Works Committee produced a bipartisan report in August 1999 which said: “A number of organisations and individuals challenged the need for a research reactor based on a requirement to produce medical radiopharmaceuticals. … The Committee recognises that this issue has not been resolved satisfactorily.”
In fact, a nuclear reactor is likely to commit Australia decisively to the “nuclear club” by ensuring a seat on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA regulates the world’s nuclear industry and is also the world’s biggest promoter of nuclear energy.
It is unclear how our national interest is served by participating in the global spread of nuclear energy with its associated risks and waste problems. Professor McKinnon, who carried out the government’s 1993 Reactor Review, agreed, stating: “There may be national advantages in not being so closely associated with IAEA stances.”http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/lh/articles
Cyclotrons have important advantages over nuclear reactors in relation to radioactive waste and safety, and cyclotrons pose no risk in relation to weapons proliferation. The underlying reason for these advantages is that cyclotrons are powered by electricity, whereas research reactors rely on a uranium fission reaction.
Tax office investigating “charity” status of anti-wind farm group
Tax office deciding if anti-wind farm group Waubra is a charity SMH, December 9, 2013 Madeleine Heffernan The tax office is deciding whether an anti-wind farm group linked to former Liberal MPs should retain its favourable tax treatment.
The Waubra Foundation has been classified a ”health promotion charity” by the tax office, meaning its ”principal activity is promoting the prevention and control of disease in humans”.
It has also been granted deductible gift recipient status by the Australian Taxation Office, and donations of more than $2 to it are tax-deductible…….
Donations to Waubra have helped fund legal challenges against wind farm developments.
Former health minister Michael Wooldridge is a director of Waubra, and former MP Alby Schultz is its patron.
The foundation says its main aim is to ”educate others about the known science relating to the adverse health impacts of infrasound and low-frequency noise.”
The health effects of wind farms has become an increasingly vexed question in the countryside, where there are dozens of farms operated by companies including AGL and Origin Energy.
Sydney academic Simon Chapman says the number of health problems linked to wind farms has reached 216. He has argued that bad publicity about the farms makes it more likely people will report feeling sick around them.
”Wind turbine syndrome” – health problems ranging from headaches, dizziness and insomnia, purportedly the result of the turbines’ low-frequency sounds – is not recognised as a medical condition……..
A spokesman for Greens senator Richard Di Natale expected the review into Waubra’s status by the tax office and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission to be finished this month.
The tax office has refused to comment, but described Waubra’s situation as ”curious”.
In a recent Senate Estimates, Senator Di Natale asked how the tax office determined that an illness a group purported to prevent was actually an illness.
Tony Poulakis, the ATO’s assistant commissioner, small and medium enterprise, replied: ”I have to admit to not knowing the procedure in which we made those determinations well enough to answer your question.”
Chris Jordan, ATO commissioner, responded that ”It does sound a curious situation, but we will certainly take that on notice.”http://www.smh.com.au/business/tax-office-deciding-if-antiwind-farm-group-waubra-is-a-charity-20131208-2yzdk.html#ixzz2n0iIozkH
Waubra Foundation calls South Australian Environment Protection Authority “corrupt”
Waubra Foundation attacks EPA Shannon Twomey Weekly Times, December 3, 2013 THE Waubra Foundation labels the South Australian Environment Protection Authority corrupt and is calling for an external inquiry.
The anti-wind farm group attacked SA EPA over its Waterloo Wind Farm Noise Study findings which were conducted during April and June. The results were released on November 26.
The study found the Waterloo Wind Farm meets relevant SA and international standards and there was no evidence linking the noise from the wind farm to adverse impacts on residents.
But in a letter sent yesterday to South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill, Waubra Foundation chief executive Sarah Laurie said the EPA staff involved in the study were deliberately attempting to corrupt the data and mislead residents.
…….The letter concludes with five “necessary actions” that Ms Laurie has urged from the Premier including an immediate external public inquiry into the SA EPA to investigate breaches of integrity, respect and accountability.
SA EPA’s operations director of science, assessment and planning Peter Dolan said noise from the Waterloo Wind Farm did not breach EPA guidelines.
He said infrasound levels from the wind farm were below the internationally threshold for perception and in many cases analyses of audio records and data were unable to demonstrate associations with events described in noise diaries……http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2013/12/03/590978_national-news.html
Bernie Fraser calls on Australian to keep the Climate Change Authority
Bernie Fraser criticises axing of Climate Change Authority The Age Tom Arup 9 Dec 13, Former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser has called on the government to retain an independent climate advisory body as it unwinds Labor carbon policy. He challenged the government’s claims that it could get similar climate advice from other public servants.
The Climate Change Authority chairman said he was frustrated and disappointed that the government was giving up a chance to receive ”good, independent advice”.
The Abbott government wants to axe the authority as part of its repeal of the carbon tax. It also wants to shut the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation…….Mr Fraser said public servants did good work, but did not have the freedom and opportunity to deliver well-considered, independent advice in the manner of the authority, Reserve Bank or Productivity Commission.
”On a subject as complex as climate change, I would have thought every government – whatever its complexion – would want to get good independent advice,” he said.
”I find it a bit frustrating this opportunity … seems to be foreclosing a bit with the present government………….Mr Fraser’s comments follow those of Clean Energy Finance Corporation chairwoman Jillian Broadbent urging the government to re-think its plans to axe that institution. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bernie-fraser-criticises-axing-of-climate-change-authority-20131208-2yzey.html#ixzz2n0g3Af2Os a disappointment.”
Unfounded optimism of Australia’s uranium industry?
Major uranium leak endangers Kakadu – but played down Indymedia Australia, 9 Dec 13;Gerry Georgatos – courtesy of The Stringer –http://thestringer.com.au/ :……….Multinational resource companies have invested in uranium sections to their companies – with huge financial capital dropped into research and development. One insider in a uranium section of a resource company said that the resource industry have sited more than 40 potential uranium mining sites alone in Western Australia, and that the Northern Territory, South Australia and Northern Territory are being further canvassed. He said that the industry, supported by Australian Governments, current and future, is not concerned about any resistance from Aboriginal communities.
“Uranium is the oil and gas, the gold of the future, maybe even blood diamonds.”
“There’ll be protesters but they won’t get in the way. Did the Jabiluka protestors really get in our way. The future is nuclear, not renewable, that’s a secondary industry, not primary. Indigenous communities will consent and sign off deals, just like the Martu (Western Australia). That’s the way it goes.”…….http://indymedia.org.au/2013/12/09/major-uranium-leak-endangers-kakadu-but-played-down
Australian Greens call for permanent closure of accident-prone Ranger uranium mine
Greens call for end of Ranger uranium mine operations after slurry spill ABC News 8 Dec 13 The Greens are calling for a permanent end to operations at the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory after a radioactive spill at the site yesterday morning.
A tank containing up to a million litres of uranium ore and acid split, damaging the crane that was trying to repair it and surrounding infrastructure at the mine near Kakadu National Park…..
West Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam says the mine should now be shut down for good.
“The company thinks that the way to save operations at Ranger is to go underground through the 3 Deeps projects,” he said.
“As far as the Greens are concerned the company should be as good as its word and close that facility when its lease runs out.
“I think this latest disaster doesn’t improve anyone’s confidence that the mine is capable of running for another 10 or 15 years.”
Senator Ludlam says there are a number of lessons to be learned from the incident, and has called for the Federal Government to reconsider giving more approval power over uranium mines to state and territory governments.
“I think some short-term lessons include the company disclosing how many other of these leach tanks there are, and whether they’re in the same condition as the one that burst,” he said.
“But in the longer term, this is a very strong sign for Environment Minister Greg Hunt that under no circumstances should he let regulation of the uranium sector go back to the states and territories.”….http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-08/greens-call-for-end-of-ranger-uranium-mine-operations/5142734
Call for no uranium exported through Queensland port: Protect Barrier Reef!
Anti-nuclear campaigner seeks port uranium assurances http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-05/anti-nuclear-campaigner-seeks-abbot-point-uranium/5137248 An anti-nuclear campaigner is calling on the Queensland Government to rule out that uranium will be exported through the Port of Mackay.
Last year, the Newman Government reversed a long-standing ban on uranium mining in Queensland.
The port’s operator, North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP), said it could be used to transport associated mining equipment.
Mark Bailey from Keep Queensland Nuclear Free says he has serious concerns about the possibility of the resource being shipped through the reef.”I don’t think any of us want uranium on the Great Barrier Reef and we certainly don’t want our tourism industry affected by an incident like a grounding on the reef in bad weather with a uranium ship,” he said.
“This has happened before, you know Cameco had a ship that hit bad weather in the Pacific. If that happens on the reef, the publicity will be very bad.”
He says he wants assurances Abbot Point will not be used.
A spokesman for NQBP says there are no plans to export the commodity through the Port of Mackay at this stage.
Senate inquiry into Abbott’s “Direct Action” policy on Climate Change
Labor, Greens join forces to set up Senate inquiry on Government’s Direct Action policy By political reporter Jane Norman ABC News 7 Dec 2013, Labor and the Greens have moved to establish a Senate inquiry into the Government’s Direct Action policy.
The multi-billion-dollar emissions reduction policy would provide polluters with financial incentives to cut emissions.
The inquiry will examine whether it is the most cost-effective way of cutting greenhouse gases and will report back by late March.
Greens leader Christine Milne says the inquiry will expose the policy as a sham……
Labor and the Greens have already vowed to block the Government’s moves to repeal the carbon tax in the Senate.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-07/labor-greens-join-forces-on-emissions-inquiry/5141872
Solar power is reshaping Australia’s electricity market
People power: Rooftop solar PV reaches 3GW in Australia REneweconomy,By Giles Parkinson on 4 December 2013 Australia has passed through another significant solar milestone, reaching 3GW of solar PV this month, as Queensland nudged the 1GW mark and states such as South Australia reached household penetration rates of 25 per cent.
“Solar power is reshaping Australia’s electricity market,” says Warwick Johnston, the head of solar research group SunWiz, who compiled the data. “This is a milestone as note-worthy as the one millionth solar power system that was installed in April.”
The growth in solar PV in Australia is quite remarkable, given that Australia’s capacity was barely more than 180MW in 2009. Much of this growth came as a result of generous feed in tariffs, but the growth continues as a new generation of households look to solar to hedge against the rising cost of grid-based electricity, to make a statement about green energy, or to do both.Australia is almost unique in the world in having its solar installations almost exclusively in rooftop solar PV. That, according to Johnston, now totals 3GW on its own, mostly residential but also on a growing number of commercial rooftops, such as wineries.
Australia has only one solar PV array above 1.2MW, the 10MW Greenough River solar farm in Western Australia, although three projects have begun or are about to begin construction in the ACT, and the 102MW Nyngan project will also begin construction in January. Others are in the wings. To put this into comparison, the Japanese market is expected to install 9GW of solar in 2013 alone, much of it at commercial or larger scale…….http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/people-power-rooftop-solar-pv-reaches-3gw-in-australia-99543
Renewable Energy Target (RET) to bring down electricity prices
The Climate Change Authority carefully considered the costs and benefits of the RET during its review of the scheme last year.
A 130-page modelling report it commissioned from SKM-MMA concludes that the RET scheme’s net impact on retail electricity prices will be to reduce retail electricity prices in 2020, as the cost of the RET scheme will be completely mitigated by its downward pressure on electricity prices.
RET brings downward pressure on electricity prices http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/ret-brings-downward-pressure-on-electricity-prices/story-e6frg9if-1226775423434# MILES GEORGE THE AUSTRALIAN DECEMBER 05, 2013
ON November 20, 1997, John Howard announced a proposal to establish a national mandatory renewable energy target.
In a speech titled Safeguarding Australia’s Future: Australia’s Response to Climate Change the prime minister said a mandatory renewable energy target would “accelerate the uptake of renewable energy in grid-based electricity and provide a larger base for the development of commercially competitive renewable energy”.
Three years later Australia’s renewable energy target scheme was passed into law, with bipartisan support.
Over the past 16 years the RET has been expanded and improved, in each case with bipartisan support, and it continues to enjoy bipartisan support as an effective piece of market-based legislation that has consistently achieved its objectives.
During that period the scheme has enabled more than $20 billion of investment in the construction and operation of clean energy facilities, resulting in enough electricity to be generated to power about two million homes — half of which largely represents utility scale wind and solar photovoltaic investments in regional areas, and the other half residential rooftop solar PV facilities.
Perhaps most important, it has been shown the RET creates significant downward pressure on electricity prices. This is because large-scale renewable energy facilities nearly always underbid fossil fuel generation in the wholesale electricity market, thereby reducing wholesale prices.
This fact is acknowledged by the Australian Electricity Market Operator, the Climate Change Authority, Bloomberg New Energy Finance and other experts. Continue reading
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20 September –National Day of Action in Melbourne on the International Day of Peace
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