Tribunal awards war widow pension regarding veteran harmed by Monte Bello nuclear radiation
A decision this month by the Veterans’ Appeals division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal upheld the finding that Mr Prior’s death was linked to his work with the British Nuclear Test Defence Service.
Relying on 57-year-old log books of Operation Mosaic – the code name given to the atomic weapons testing at the Monte Bello islands – as well as a witness account of the explosion and design points of the aircraft, the tribunal found Mr Prior would have suffered contamination.
The tribunal heard Mr Prior suffered from a very rare skin condition that could have been caused by ionising radiation.
Specialists said the itching and pain could be so severe as to lead to depression and suicidal thoughts, with itching permeating every aspect of live, including sleeping.
The court found “there was a connection between Mr Prior’s exposure to ionising radiation and his skin condition which caused chronic pain” and upheld the decision to award the pension.
Wife of veteran involved in Monte Bello Island nuclear test wins war widow pension JESSICA MARSZALEK NEWS LIMITED NETWORK OCTOBER 07, 2013 http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/wife-of-veteran-involved-in-monte-bello-island-nuclear-test-wins-war-widow-pension/story-fnihslxi-1226734294281A VETERAN’S wife has won a 10-year fight for the war widow’s pension after she successfully argued her husband committed suicide because of his involvement in atomic bomb testing in Australia.
The retired Air Commodore, who was stationed at Richmond in NSW and served in Vietnam, was 67 years old when he died in October 2001 – a death deemed not to attract the $840 fortnightly war widow payment. Continue reading
Influential Aboriginal leaders have doubts about Warren Mundine and the new Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC)
The establishment of the IAC, two thirds of which is directly aligned with the uranium industry, does not bode well for advancing a mature conversation around and action on the problems of Aboriginal disadvantage. At the very least there should be a diversity of communities and a diversity of views represented.
A lode of real action http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=15551 By Kado Muir, Mitch . and Peter Watts – 7 October 2013 This article was first published in the Koori Mail As the dust starts to settle and Australia reflects on the outcomes of the recent federal election, many Aboriginal people have growing concerns over Tony Abbott’s new Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) and the agenda behind its plans for real action for Indigenous Australians. Continue reading
Abbott govt accelerates sale of uranium to India, as India fires another nuclear-capable missile
India, Australia to hold third round of nuclear talks IANS | http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-australia-to-hold-third-round-of-nuclear-talks/427039-3.html?utm_source=ref_article Oct 07, 2013 New Delhi: India and Australia, under the new dispensation of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, are hoping to hold a third round of talks on nuclear cooperation in December this year, said a top official on Monday. Secretary (East) in the external affairs ministry Ashok K Kantha said Abbott has “made positive comments about the need for expediting, accelerating negotiations between India and Australia on nuclear cooperation”.
“We already have held two rounds of negotiations, and we are hoping to hold a third round of negotiations if possible in December this year. 
We have not yet firmed up the dates. But I believe there is a strong desire on both sides to try and bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion at an early date,” said Kantha at a briefing in New Delhi.
India test fires nuclear capable missile from Odisha Tribune, By Web Desk October 7, 2013 ODISHA: India test-fired a nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile from a test range at Chandipur, Odisha on Monday, Express News reported……The Prithvi II missile was inducted into India’s Strategic Forces Command in 2003 and is the first missile developed by DRDO under India’s IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.
The missile is capable of carrying 500 to 1000 kilograms of warheads according to The Hindu.
On September 14, India successfully test-fired for a nuclear-capable missile that can reach Beijing and much of Europe. http://tribune.com.pk/story/614650/india-test-fires-nuclear-capable-missile-from-odisha/
Christine Milne is right: Martin Ferguson’s new job a mockery of code of conduct
The code says: “Persons who, after 6 December 2007, retire from office as a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary, shall not, for a period of 18 months after they cease to hold office, engage in lobbying activities relating to any matter that they had official dealings with in their last 18 months in office”.
Greens’ claims over Ferguson lobbying are in the ballpark ABC News Fact Check 8 Oct 13
- The claim: Christine Milne says former resources minister Martin Ferguson’s new jobs make a mockery of the lobbying code of conduct.
- The verdict: By taking up the appointment within the cooling off period it can be argued that Mr Ferguson has made a mockery of the intent and spirit of the code.
- “……..Mr Ferguson’s new roles, six months after he resigned from federal cabinet in March, made a mockery of the ministerial code of conduct, Senator Milne said.”Martin Ferguson’s appointment as group executive of natural resources for Seven Group Holdings and as chair to a petroleum industry advisory board makes a mockery of the code of conduct which prevents former ministers engaging in lobbying activities relating to any matter that they had official dealings in,” she said.
The new jobs
Mr Ferguson accepted a role as chairman of an advisory board of the gas and oil industry’s peak body, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association.
The association’s website acknowledges its status as a lobby group, Continue reading
Shadowing becoming a legal issue, in Melbourne’s solar rooftop boom
The Clean Energy Council said it was the perfect time for new laws to be introduced so new buildings did not hamper the energy efficiency of their neighbours.
Solar review casts shadow on high-rises http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/solar-review-casts-shadow-on-highrises-20131007-2v4bs.html October 8, 2013 Aisha Dow Developers may be prevented from building high-rises that block sunlight from hitting solar panels on buildings in central Melbourne, under new rules being considered by the state government.
The Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure is reviewing planning and building provisions that affect solar panel placement and overshadowing. A department spokesman said the review would decide whether there is need for reform, with any changes to be part of the new Metropolitan Planning Strategy.
The move comes as a new study shows Melbourne’s inner-city rooftops could host enough solar panels to power 10,000 houses.They found that even if only 20 per cent of roof space was covered by panels it would be enough to host the equivalent of 100 large solar parks.
Councillor and sustainable business expert Arron Wood said the figure would be much higher if they had also audited high-rise towers and business and apartment buildings in the central city. But concerns about the sun being blocked by new construction in the CBD led the council to limit its scoping study. Cr Wood said there needed to be stronger government policy on the shadowing of solar panels.
”It’s also another reason why we should stick to the mandatory building height limits, and that’s something we have considered,” he said.
Last year a proposal to build two double-storey houses in Kensington was rejected by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after a neighbour complained the structure would partially eclipse his rooftop panels. VCAT called for clearer guidelines for determining acceptable levels of overshadowing. Continue reading
Local Councils and ratepayers may be interested in contributing to Climate Council
Ratepayers may pay for Tim Flannery Climate Council JOHN MASANAUSKAS HERALD SUN OCTOBER 08, 2013 COUNCILS may volunteer their ratepayers’ money to help prop up a climate advisory group axed by the Abbott Government.Some local councils are considering whether to donate to the new Climate Council, led by controversial scientist Professor Tim Flannery.
Prof Flannery was formerly in charge of the federal Climate Commission, which was relaunched as the Climate Council after the new Government abolished it. The Council is being funded through public donations; about $1 million has been raised so far.
The inner city Yarra Council will vote on Tuesday night on a motion to donate funds and join the Climate Council as a “founding friend”.Greens councillor Amanda Stone, who is putting the motion, said it would be up to councillors to decide if and how much to donate.
“Given that Yarra Council is a leader in addressing climate change at the local level it’s highly appropriate that we express support in a symbolic perhaps more than in a very concrete way,” she said. “I wouldn’t imagine it would be a huge amount.”…….
Cr Stone said she understood that a similar motion to go before Moreland Council had suggested a $1000 donation.
“Given that the vast majority of climate scientists are agreed on the science and the implications for people on this planet, it’s absolutely vital that there’s an independent source of accurate information there for people to access,” she said.
Cr Stone said she was confident Yarra ratepayers would support the gesture as there was strong support for the council’s policies on sustainability and climate change……….Yarra claims to be the first Victorian council to achieve carbon neutrality. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/ratepayers-may-pay-for-tim-flannery-climate-council/story-fni0fiyv-1226734337554
Tony Abbott ready to sign up to secretive Trans Pacific Partnership
The TPP seeks, among other things, to rewrite the global rules on intellectual property enforcement that would give Big Media new powers to lock users out of our own content and services, provide new liabilities that might force ISPs to police our online activity, and give giant media companies even greater powers to shut down websites and remove content at will. It also encourages ISPs to block accused infringers’ Internet access, and could force ISPs to hand over our private information to big media conglomerates without appropriate privacy safeguards. You can see a more complete list of new restrictions below, but it appears that the TPP would turn all Internet users into suspected copyright criminals. In fact it appears to criminalize content sharing in general.
Abbott set to sign highly secretive TPP agreement this month http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/business/abbott-set-to-sign-secretive-tpp-agreement-this-month/ WHAT SORT of “Trade Agreement” manages to both criminalise internet use and force coal seam fracking onto communities?
The answer to this is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a pact that has the ominous potential to achieve both these corporate objectives — and many more.
Of course, we cannot know the exact effects of the TPP, as the negotiations over the past few years have been held in secret. However, two leaked chapters – out of the 26 or more under negotiation – have caused more than their fair share of concern.
TPP: The Biggest Threat to the Internet You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
One of these chapters threatens to undermine both our existing domestic and international legal systems, throwing away the protections and rights achieved over hundreds of years.
How? Through tribunals linked to a system of International Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS). The one in the TPP led to an open letter signed by prominent Australian judges, lawyers, politicians and academics insisting that the government should not sign an agreement that includes ISDS. The letter states:
‘…the increasing use of this mechanism to skirt domestic court systems and the structural problems inherent in the arbitral regime are corrosive of the rule of law and fairness.’
But ISDS is most definitely included in the proposed TPP put forward by United States negotiators. The Gillard government made it clear that Australia would not sign another trade agreement that included international dispute settlement by tribunals. This followed Australians being burnt by an agreement that has allowed Phillip-Morris to take Australia to an international tribunal over its plain packaging laws, even though our own High Court already decided against Phillip-Morris.
Other countries are experiencing equally serious consequences. Continue reading
THE AUSTRALIAN’S story (with inaccuracies) on Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan
Nuclear dump back on NT table, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/nuclear-dump-back-on-nt-table/story-fn59niix-1226733887067#mm-premiumSEAN PARNELL The Australian. 7 Oct 13 CONTROVERSIAL plans for a nuclear waste dump are back on the agenda, with the Abbott government commissioning a business case that would allow federal cabinet to consider the project next year and potentially have a facility built by 2019.
Regarding the title; an NT dump has never been off the table- every Minister with the waste portfolio since Brendan Nelson announced the plan has continued pursuit of a remote NT site
Minister Ian MacFarlane has said on radio today that he hasn’t even read a briefing on Muckaty since being sworn in so I think its unlikely that the current tender process was actually initiated by him; it seems far more in line with the approach of former Minister Gary Gray.
The government expects to have an initial business case in April, after a period of consultation and fine-tuning by key agencies and stakeholders and ahead of the court hearings set down for June.
The Australian has learned the department last week briefed the private sector on its request for the development of a business case — which neither favours nor precludes the use of Muckaty Station — and the prospect the nuclear waste dump could be constructed and managed under a public-private partnership.
The private sector was told the concept plans delivered by the Spanish agency ENRESA involved a $150m, co-located low-level waste disposal and intermediate-level waste storage facility, which could be up and running by 2019.
While there had been rising support for the use of nuclear power before the Fukushima disaster in 2011, Mr Macfarlane said earlier this year it had dissipated and a Coalition government would not be proposing a nuclear power plant in its first term.
Public support for new Climate Council reaches $1 million
Climate Council, which replaced the axed Climate Commission, reaches $1 million funding target http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-05/climate-council-has-sufficient-funding-to-operate-for-a-year/5000822 6 Oct 2013, The newly formed Climate Council’s appeal for public support has seen it raise its minimum annual operating budget – reaching a target of $1 million.
The council was formed by the team who ran the Commonwealth-funded Climate Commission, which was axed by the Coalition Government.Professor Tim Flannery relaunched the commission as the Climate Council – an independent, crowd-funded organisation to provide quality information to the Australian public.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie says the organisation now has the minimum amount needed to continue for 12 more months.
“This means that we can start employing researchers… by the public getting behind it,” she said. She says reaching the $1 million mark through crowd-funding in such a short period of time proves it is a service that is still wanted and needed.
“Australians are concerned about climate change, they want to see something done, so getting that independent scientific information is really important,” she said. Professor Flannery said donations started rolling in from September 24. “We had our first donation from James in New South Wales for $15 at midnight,” he said at the time.”We’ve been raising $1,000 an hour… through the night.” By Tuesday afternoon 7,200 people had donated $218,000.
Professor Flannery says the council’s purpose is to provide independent information on the science of climate change.
“We have simply one goal and one objective and we always have, which is to take the science, the economics of climate change and what’s happening internationally in terms of action and present it in a clear and understandable and authoritative way to the Australian public,” he said.
South Australian Govt’s plan to keep ‘unsuitable’ people out of body governng Aborignal lands.
New APY rules to vet ‘unsuitable people ‘http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politics-news/new-apy-rules-to-vet-unsuitable-people/story-fn59nqld-1226733838565 SARAH MARTIN OCTOBER 07, 2013 NEW rules for the executive body that governs South Australia’s troubled northern Aboriginal Lands are being considered by the state Labor government, as it embarks on a review of the APY Land Rights Act.
The terms of reference for the review, obtained by The Australian, show that the government wants to prevent unsuitable people being appointed to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands executive through a new “fit and proper person” test.
“The criteria would cover, but would not be limited to, demonstration of competency, experience, skills and ability, personal integrity, reputation, diligence, independence of mind, fairness and absence of convictions or civil liabilities,” the terms of reference say.
“To give confidence the nominees for election to the APY executive have the necessary skills, experience, ability and commitment to carry out the role, it is considered only fair and reasonable for some form of ‘fit and proper’ criteria to be applied.”………
Uniting Communities indigenous policy spokesman Jonathan Nicholls said he was concerned about the scope of the review.
“It is unlikely this review will do much to address the governance and capacity problems that have plagued the APY executive for a number of years.” http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politics-news/new-apy-rules-to-vet-unsuitable-people/story-fn59nqld-1226733838565#sthash.WAfwHGWH.dpuf
Politically biased media climate coverage is not a coincidence
Let’s be honest – the global warming debate isn’t about science by Dana Nuccitelli Friday 4 October 2013 theguardian.comThe scientific evidence on human-caused global warming is clear. Opposition stems from politics, not science.The 2013 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states with 95 percent confidence that humans have caused most, and probably all of the rapid global warming over the past 60 years. Approximately 97 percent of climate experts and peer-reviewed climate science studies agree…….
Politically biased media climate coverage is not a coincidence
The scientific evidence is what it is, and it has no political bias. The same is not true of the media outlets that cover the topic. It’s not a coincidence that politically conservative tabloids and newspapers like the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Australian, and Wall Street Journal spend a disproportionate amount of time amplifying the voices of the less than 3 percent of climate contrarian scientists, as well as many non-scientist contrarians.
It’s certainly not the case that David Rose has some brilliant insight into the state of climate science that climate scientists don’t have. He and his fellow climate contrarians simply approach the question backwards. They start from their political ideological opposition to climate solutions and work backwards, seeking out cherry picked evidence to justify their predetermined conclusions, thus ignoring the 97 percent of inconvenient scientific evidence. This climate contrarianism ideological bias is illustrated in a new study, summarized by Graham Readfearn: Continue reading
St George and Sutherland Shire still want ANSTO’s nuclear facilities – just not the wastes!
‘The people of Sutherland Shire call on the government to address the long-term future of nuclear waste associated with the continued operation of the ANSTO reactor and increased waste production associated with the new nuclear medicine centre.’
‘‘The continued transportation of intermediate level radioactive waste to Lucas Heights in the form of reprocessed fuel represents an unnecessary risk to the surrounding residents and communities.’’.
Mayor reacts to ANSTO licence for new nuclear medicine facility at Lucas Heights St George and Sutherland Shire Leader Oct. 4, 2013, .The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has issued a licence to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation to prepare a site for the ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Molybdenum-99 Facility at Lucas Heights.
The move prompted Sutherland Shire mayor Steve Simpson to renew the council’s calls for the federal government to address the problem of long-term management of radioactive waste from the Lucas Heights centre and establish a national nuclear waste repository as priority.
Investors warned about the fading glow of the uranium market (The Australian!)
The price fall that started six years ago could continue, especially with major new reserves being readily discovered in Australia and Africa. And it seems nuclear incidents are never too far away.
Those holding shares in uranium companies, or considering them, should handle them with great care.
Uranium best handled with care TONY KAYE THE AUSTRALIAN OCTOBER 05 IT isn’t all about Japan, Iran, the “China syndrome”, or even the swarm of moon jellyfish that forced a shutdown this week of all three reactors at Sweden’s Oskarshamn nuclear plant.
But the cold reality of the meltdown afflicting the uranium sector globally was best demonstrated on Wednesday when Australian group Paladin Energy announced it was slashing its operating costs across the board in the face of a further weakening in the spot price of the nuclear fuel it mines in southern Africa.
Paladin, based in Perth, has watched its share price dive more than 90 per cent since 2007 at the hands of a uranium price that has plunged about 75 per cent over the same period. Compelled to address the issue, the company has taken the knife to its cost structure, cutting head-office jobs, exploration expenses, executive pay by 10 per cent, and cash costs by $23 million.
Paladin is also attempting to sell its stake in its flagship Namibian mine to pay down $US750m ($794m) in debt. “Optimisation strategies have now become even more pertinent with the further incremental weakening of the uranium spot price,” the company said.
So what are the factors behind uranium’s fading glow? The answer is not rocket science. Continue reading
Australian Renewable Energy Agency ‘s strategy for hybrid renewable energy
ARENA looks to accelerate renewable hybrid power plants http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/arena-looks-accelerate-deployment-renewable-hybrid-generators-21110 By Giles Parkinson on 4 October 2013 The Australian Renewable Energy Agency says it will soon unveil its strategy for a widespread “hybridisation” of Australia’s fleet of fossil fuel power plants.
ARENA chair Greg Bourne says a report conducted by Parsons Brinkerhoff will be released later this month which will look at how quickly and widely renewable fuels such as geothermal, solar thermal and biomass can be added to existing plants, or used to exploit the infrastructure of plants which have closed.
Bourne sees hybridisation as a key strategy for the deployment of renewables in Australia, even if some argue that it may extend the life of dirty and inefficient coal plants. It is part of what he sees as a cautious and gradual approach to the greening of Australia’s electricity grid.
“We expect this study will inform the design of a new program in 2013/14 to encourage the broader deployment of utility scale, grid connected renewable energy in existing power stations,” he said in a speech to the Australian National Conference on Resources and Energy in Canberra. Continue reading
Western Australian Aboriginal call for voices other than Warren Mundine’s
NACCHO health political update week 4: National and WA peak bodies express concerns about Indigenous voice NACCHO Aboriginal Health News Alerts 2 Oct 13
As we enter week 4 of the new Abbott led Government , the future of Aboriginal affairs and specifically Aboriginal health is still uncertain. Last week in Western Australia a number of Aboriginal organisations including NACCHO affiliate Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA), the Kimberly Land Council and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples expressed concerns about “Indigenous voices”. Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA)
Western Australia’s peak Aboriginal health body says they agree wholeheartedly with recent statements by the Kimberly Land Council that 
Warren Mundine is not the only Indigenous voice but urges the government to remember that land isn’t the only Indigenous issue.
‘Tony Abbott’s Indigenous Advisory Council needs a strong voice from Western Australia, but that voice needs to represent all the interests and needs of Aboriginal people and their communities,’ says Des Martin, Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA)
While Mr Martin acknowledges land rights are an important issue, the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people cannot be forgotten, he says.
‘I agree wholeheartedly with Kirstie Parker’s statement that Warren Mundine isn’t the only voice for Indigenous people and I support what the Kimberley Land Council does, it is extremely important for all Aboriginal people to have their country and care for it to secure their future but if their health is still suffering then that isn’t a good thing for them or future generations,’ Mr Martin says.
‘We need broad representation on the Indigenous Advisory Council, not just land or business interests. Tony Abbott does need to take advice from more than one source when it comes to Aboriginal people. Continue reading
1 This month.
20 September –National Day of Action in Melbourne on the International Day of Peace
Help Aunty Sue Protect Her Land and Sacred Sites From Destructive Rocket Testing.
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Australians deserve the truth
about
AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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