So is Tony Abbott going to sign us up to the (rotten) Trans Pacific Partnership deal?
And then there’s the big one, the US-driven Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), now being negotiated
“The Government has not and will not accept provisions that limit its capacity to put health warnings or plain packaging requirements on tobacco products or its ability to continue the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’ – [Gillard Labor Government]
Abbott: Open For Business — And Multinational Lawsuits The Global Mail By Mike Seccombe
September 20, 2013 Labor rejected it outright. Even the Howard government issued America with a rare “no” over the legislation, declaring it contrary to national interests. But now the Abbott Coalition is flirting with a trade agreement that would allow companies, acting increasingly in secret, to sue Australia if they don’t like its regulations…….. the Howard government was at first almost pathetically keen to do a deal with the United States.
In the end, however, Australians’ growing hostility to the trade agreement forced Howard, for once, to say “no” to George Bush.
It wasn’t a blanket refusal of an Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA); a deal was eventually stitched up and began operating in 2005. The “no” was to one of America’s key demands: a provision called Investor-State Dispute Settlement, or ISDS.
What this arcane phrase refers to is the right of foreign companies to sue national governments of the signatory countries, not in domestic courts, but in opaque international forums, if they think some element of that government’s policy is harming their interests.
If a mining company, for example, is unhappy with environmental safeguards which inhibit its operations, if a pharmaceutical company is unhappy with the prices it gets for its drugs, if a chemical company is upset with the banning of an agricultural pesticide, if a tobacco company does not like laws restricting cigarette sales, ISDS provisions in trade agreements give them the means to challenge government policy and to seek compensation. Continue reading
Yeah – let’s Australia become the world’s radioactive trash toilet!
Call to store nuclear waste to sustain uranium industry http://www.afr.com/p/business/sunday/call_to_store_nuclear_waste_to_sustain_bQJnppe7viMuI9dlCLPbmJ CLAIRE STEWART, 22 Sept 13 Australia will need to start enriching uranium and storing the nuclear waste if it is going to sustain a competitive uranium industry in the future, says senior finance and resources figure Mark Johnson.
Mr Johnson, a former deputy chair of Macquarie Bank and former chairman of AGL, said Australia had a “great opportunity” to become a participant in a “free world nuclear fuel cycle”, if it produces uranium. “But the consequence of that is we would also have to store spent uranium,” he told Financial Review Sunday.
Federal government laws explicitly prohibit the building of nuclear fabrication, enrichment or power plants and the return of nuclear waste to Australia for storage. “Nobody wants spent nuclear fuel in their backyard, even if it would be right in the centre of the outback of Australia, [with] very stable geological conditions,” Mr Johnson said.
The price of uranium has halved since governments around the world promised to cut their reliance on nuclear power following the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Energy Resources Australia chief executive Rob Atkinson said the market will turn, particularly given expected demand from China.
For other democracies, nuclear power is “off the table for generations”, Mr Johnson said, prompting suggestions that enrichment and storage of waste will be a key part of expanding the industry. Australia currently processes uranium to the “yellow cake” stage, which is then exported for further processing and concentration, and in some cases turned into fuel rods.
Uranium as a fuel source can only be used for about three years before it becomes too unstable, said Australian Conservation Foundation nuclear campaigner Dave Sweeny. He said making Australia part of the global fuel cycle was about opening the country up for return of that spent material. “Industry returns are meagre and the risks are significant and continuing,” he said. “Storage is the Achilles heel . . . it highlights the political, social and technical difficulty of doing this.”
Trans Pacific Partnership a political minefield for the Abbott government
Opening Australian governments to lawsuits over resource extraction, foreign land purchases, pharmaceutical benefits and health measures is a potential minefield for the new government.
Trade treaty stance the same, despite promise, http://www.theage.com.au/business/trade-treaty-stance-the-same-despite-promise-20130922-2u7wm.html#ixzz2fkoj8kHt The Age September 23, 2013 Peter Martin
Foreign corporations wanting to sue Australian governments will have to cool their heels. New trade minister Andrew Robb says Australia’s negotiating position on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement remains the same despite an election commitment to overturn the blanket prohibition on ”investor-state dispute settlement” provisions.
The previous government declared point-blank that Australia would never again sign an agreement that included the provisions. One of the few trade agreements Australia has signed with such a clause allowed a Hong Kong-based subsidiary of tobacco giant Philip Morris to take Australia to an international tribunal over its plain-packaging laws, despite having lost its case in the High Court. Continue reading
Abbott government tight-lipped about Australia’s presence at Global Climate Fund in Paris.
Coalition no comment on UN climate meeting, The Age, September 23, 2013 Peter Hannam Carbon economy editor
Australia’s international commitment to tackling climate change is in doubt with the Abbott government refusing to say if a senior bureaucrat will lead a key meeting of a giant new United Nations fund for developing nations.
Ewen McDonald, acting director-general of Australia’s main aid arm AusAID, is scheduled to co-chair the board meeting of next month’s Global Climate Fund in Paris. The fund is intended to become a conduit for state and private funds of up to $US100 billion ($106 billion) a year by 2020 to help poorer nations shift to low-carbon energy. ”The [fund’s] Interim Secretariat expects that Mr McDonald will attend and co-chair the meeting,” said a spokeswoman for the fund.
AusAID’s executive, though, would not say whether Mr McDonald will take his leadership role in France. The Department of Foreign Affairs, which Prime Minister Tony Abbott directed to absorb AusAID, also refused to comment. Greg Hunt, the new environment minister, referring to Australia’s support for the fund refused to say if Mr McDonald would go to the Paris meeting. Continue reading
Full shine ahead for the GoSun solar stove
Cook Dinner In 20 Minutes Using The Sun http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3953 23 Sept 13 The classic Australian barby could look very different soon – a new Kickstarter project seeks to finance commercial release of the GoSun Stove. Claiming to cook a meal in as little as 20 minutes in moderate sunlight, the GoSun Stove offers an efficiency of 80 – 90%.
Now in its 30th iteration, what will be the go-to-market versions of the appliance use parabolic reflection, evacuation and the greenhouse effect to create what its makers say is “the most advanced solar cooking device to date”. Food is placed inside the evacuated tube, which acts as a thermos; continuing to provide heat should the sun be obscured by clouds.
The GoSun stove can reach temperatures up to 550°F (approximately 287 degrees Celsius) and unlike many other forms of solar cookers; once positioned, the GoSun doesn’t require continual adjusting.
While designed to some degree with developing nations in mind, the GoSun Stove will also be available in developed nations.
Among the societal and environmental benefits listed for the device is the tongue in cheek “No Child Left Inside – getting outdoors to stop Nature Deficiency Disorder”.
Backers pledging USD $79 will receive a GoSun Mini and a pledge of $179 will provide a full-scale GoSun Stove. The GoSun Mini is a featherweight at just 700 grams, but only provides a volume of 300ml for food – not exactly a huge capacity. It has a very small footprint when assembled – 32cm long x 15cm high and 20cm wide.
The full scale GoSun Stove weight 1.5kg, offers a 1.4kg food capacity and its dimensions when assembled and fully opened are 61cm long, 41cm high and 30cm wide. The makers have already far exceeded their funding target. While the goal was to raise $40,000; at the time of writing, $111,309 has been pledged.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency backed award winning wave energy project
Even before completion of the Port MacDonnell demonstration project, funded by the federal government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency and private backers, Greenwave has caused a stir worldwide. Mr Baghaei said the company was in talks with governments and businesses in Asia, Europe and the US on deployment of the technology under licence. “We feel we are one of the leaders in this sector,”
Oceanlinx award buoys wave-energy’s future http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/oceanlinx-award-buoys-wave-energys-future/story-fn91v9q3-1226724729334 CHERYL JONES THE AUSTRALIAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2013
A CONCRETE structure taking shape at the Techport facility in Adelaide is helping to lay the foundations of a new Australian export industry — wave power technology.
The structure, a one-megawatt “wave energy converter” — the most powerful such unit in the world and capable of powering about 1000 households — is being built by Oceanlinx to demonstrate technology developed by the small Sydney company. Continue reading
Queensland govt talks the talk on Aboriginal rights, but does it walk the walk?
Queensland government using the right language on mining on aboriginal land http://fredleftwich.com/2013/09/18/queensland-government-using-the-right-language-on-mining-on-aboriginal-land/
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/9/18/aurukun-proposals-submitted
The Queensland Government has received two proposals to develop the Aurukun bauxite deposit in western Cape York. The government says it will evaluate the proposals based on their environmental merits as well as how they maximised benefits and returns to the native title holders, the Aurukun community and the state.
At least the government is using the right language in trying to maximised benefits and returns to aboriginal communities but to make sure, the government must release the details of the final contract showing that aboriginal groups are in deed receiving their fair share of profits. As I mentioned in my previous post, A treaty would help this process to achieve the best possible outcomes for all parties.
30 years of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Rights Act – still a long way to go
Australia: Spotlight on indigenous affairs today: 20 September 2013 by Charles Harrison, Josephine Heesh, Patricia Monemvasitis, Peter Punch and Janine Smith Carroll & O’Dea ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS ACT 1983 (NSW)2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (‘the Act‘), recently celebrated as part of NAIDOC week.
The 1983 Act, passed by the Wran Labor Government, was New South Wales’ first piece of land rights legislation. The Act followed a two year consultation period, facilitated by a Legislative Assembly Select Committee chaired by Maurice Keane, which involved 4,000 individuals across the State and received 262 submissions.
The Act significantly acknowledged prior ownership and occupancy, made unused Crown Land available to claim and established mechanisms to facilitate Aboriginal self-determination. While some Aboriginal activists at the time felt that the Act did not go far enough, the High Court’s previous Justice Kirby once characterised the Act as “little short of revolutionary”, considering its pre-Mabo context.
To mark the anniversary the History Council of NSW organised a seminar during NAIDOC week titled “ Daring ideas: Is Land Rights Enough?“. A panel of lawyers, lecturers, activists and those involved with the administration of the Act discussed and debated the Act’s current operation. There seemed to be consensus amongst the participants, and members of the audience, that while the Act represented a significant step forward, there is still a way to go to deliver meaningful land rights to Aboriginal Australians…….. http://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/263784/indigenous+peoples/Spotlight+on+indigenous+affairs+today
Traditional owners’ court case against plan for Muckaty radioactive trash dump
Spurious excuses The rationale for the dump is spurious. There is no compelling scientific or public safety necessity for one to be built.It has been repeatedly claimed that a specialised waste dump is required to safely store low level waste (LLW) and long lived intermediate level waste (LLIW).
Most of the LLW is derived from medical isotopes used in hospitals and clinics, while the LLIW comes almost exclusively from the nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney. It is this latter type of waste that is of most concern because it is highly toxic and radioactive for a lengthy period
No Northern Territory nuclear waste dump!, En Passant Posted by John, September 19th, 2013 Despite clear opposition 
from the Aboriginal traditional owners, the push for a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, continues, write Jon Lamb and Cathy Lawless in Red Flag.
The campaign led by traditional owners to stop the waste dump is gearing up for the next stage in the fight.
On 26 August, the Federal Court set June 2014 for a case to be heard on whether the nomination of the site for the waste dump followed due process. The nuclear free campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation, Dave Sweeney, told Red Flag: Continue reading
Film ‘The Way The Wind Blows’ counters the myths about Waubra wind farm
The truth about Waubra… Locals set record straight on wind farm http://yes2renewables.org/2013/09/20/the-truth-about-waubra/#comment-39331 Those who have followed the rollout of wind energy in Australia would have heard of the quaint Victorian town of Waubra–the location of one of Australia’s largest wind farms. Producing enough clean electricity to for 143,000 households, more than enough to power Ballarat, Waubra’s 128 wind turbines offset a massive 635,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year which would have been generated by burning coal in the LaTrobe Valley.
While the town should be known for its leadership role addressing climate change and repowering Australia with renewable energy, its name has been tarnished by anti-wind farm lobbyists.
In 2010, the Waubra Foundation was formed by Peter Mitchell–a fossil fuel investor and wind farm opponent–and has unleashed a scare campaign about the alleged health risk of wind energy ever since. The organisation coopted the town’s name without consent of it residents. Unfortunately for locals, the town is linked to a so-called wind farm noise disease rather than its strong community and quality produce.
This all could be about the change.
Over a year in the making, independent filmmaker Neil Barrett has interviewed wind farmers, neighbours and locals to get to the bottom of the negative claims surrounding the project. Barratt has produced a short film entitles The Way The Wind Blows which counters the myths and gives locals a voice for the first time. The short film is a must view.
Australia’s public servants – be careful! or Abbott will sack you
With blood still on the carpet, a public servant in a senior position will need extra courage to provide objective and critical assessments about climate policy and other contentious issues. We should salute those who will continue to provide frank and fearless advice, and understand if some will be cautious
Australia needs climate institutions, whoever is in power, The Conversation Frank Jotzo Director, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy at Australian National University 20 Sept 13 The new Australian government is sacking the public service heads who implemented Australia’s carbon pricing scheme, and is closing institutions for climate change information and policy advice.
It risks further politicisation of the climate change issue in the public service. Keeping at the very least the Climate Change Authority as an independent agency would send a positive signal about the government’s commitment to economically sound climate policy. Science and economics are needed to underpin policy choices, especially in a field where ideological positions now play such a big role in public debate.
Sackings Continue reading
The case for the Climate Change Authority
Australia needs climate institutions, whoever is in power, The Conversation Frank Jotzo Director, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy at Australian National University 20 Sept 13 “……..The most important element of the institutional structure at risk is the Climate Change Authority. This was established as a statutory agency to provide advice to the government and parliament, modelled after the UK Committee on Climate Change.
The Authority conducts reviews on Australia’s climate change policies. Its draft report on Australia’s climate change target – which has bipartisan support – is due in October. The final report, as well as a report on Australia’s emissions trends and drivers, is due early in 2014. A review of Australia’s renewable energy target is already out.
The government has said it will abolish the Authority. Doing so will require a change to legislation so cannot happen immediately.
Axing the Authority would be the most severe blow to Australia’s climate change policy institutions. Even if the carbon price was repealed, the authority has an important role. It has to advise on Australia’s national emissions target, and provide deep and critical analysis on any policy aimed at cutting emissions.
By all indications, the Authority has been taking very seriously its task to critically evaluate the evidence and form well-supported recommendations for policy. The Authority employs some of the sharpest climate policy analysts in Australia, led by Anthea Harris, one of the country’s most experienced climate policy practitioners……….http://theconversation.com/australia-needs-climate-institutions-whoever-is-in-power-18371
The motivation behind the push for a radioactive trash dump in the Northern Territory
No Northern Territory nuclear waste dump!, En Passant Posted by John, September 19th, 2013 “………Dave Sweeney explains further: “In the 1990s there was a departmental decision made that the best way to manage Australia’s radioactive waste was through developing a centralised remote dump or store. This decision was made by unelected bureaucrats and has since been uncritically adopted and advanced by successive federal governments. A remote dump is one way to manage waste; it is not the only way and has never been proven to be the best way.”
The push for a nuclear waste facility also ties in with a desire by the Australian ruling class to maintain a stake in the global nuclear industry. Aboriginal rights, the safety of workers and environmental concerns are being quashed or ignored in order to pursue profit.
The justification for storage of medical waste is also a complete furphy. Sweeney told Red Flag, “The medical myth is a deeply disturbing aspect of the Muckaty story. Both major parties have consistently misrepresented the situation by claiming that the Muckaty dump is needed to ensure Australians have access to nuclear medicine for therapeutic and diagnostic reasons.
“This is not the case – and medical waste is not the driver for the planned dump. Medical and public health bodies including the Medical Association for the Prevention of War and the Public Health Association of Australia have repeatedly condemned the conflation of these issues”, he said.
The promotion of the waste dump on an economic basis, including for local Aboriginal communities, also deeply concerns Shaw. “It is disgusting to talk about a nuclear waste dump as being part of economic development because there is no economic development in nuclear waste dumping”, she said……http://enpassant.com.au/2013/09/19/no-northern-territory-nuclear-waste-dump/
Australia’s Climate Commission and Clean Energy Finance Corporation – what they actually do
Australia needs climate institutions, whoever is in power, The Conversation Frank Jotzo Director, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy at Australian National University 20 Sept 13 “……The first of Australia’s independent climate change institutions to get the axe is the Climate Commission, the agency created by the Labor government to disseminate public information about climate change.
It made its mark with reports about climate change impacts and the scientific basis for prompt action. But it also explained the advantages of carbon pricing and listed mitigation policy actions that other countries are taking, and took its message to many public forums.
It is by no means revolutionary stuff. The fact the incoming government sees the Commission as a problem is an indication of just how deeply politicised the Australian climate debate has become.
Next on the block is the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which is charged with making co-investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the commercial sector.
The Corporation has a A$10 billion investment mandate – not a subsidy, but the mandate to invest up to that amount and earn an appropriate return on the investments. The Corporation has been told to stop lending, though whether the government can legally require it to do so before new legislation is passed appears somewhat unclear.
It is slated to be abolished if and when the government repeals the Clean Energy legislation including the carbon price.http://theconversation.com/australia-needs-climate-institutions-whoever-is-in-power-18371
Traditional land owners want troubled ERA uranium mining to shut down by 2021 (or earlier)
traditional owners of the land want ERA to stick to the 2021 deadline.
“It’s never crossed our mind that they would mine beyond 2021,”
Rio Tinto may decide to walk away from the project at its mandated deadline. “They will be acutely aware that they will be judged long into the future on how they exit Kakadu,” Sweeney says.
Debate warming up over Ranger mine future, The West Neda Vanovac, AAPSeptember 19, 2013, The operators of the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory have unveiled a new water processing machine they say will give it a future beyond 2021.
But not everyone’s happy……. Traditional owners and environmental groups want to see ERA exit in 2021. 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)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 