Australian government Intervention laws against Aborigines contravene human rights
The government has wilful deafness on such a fundamental issue, even after critical reports on the intervention by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples.
Intervention laws face human rights hurdle BY: PATRICIA KARVELAS The Australian May 04, 2012 THE National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples has threatened to use “domestic and international human rights forums” to humiliate the Gillard government over the next stage of its radical intervention into Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Slow journey to new Kyoto climate action Protocol
the next high-level climate summit to start [ in Doha] in November.
U.N. climate negotiators will gather on May 14-25 in Bonn, Germany, to resume talks on issues including the length and stringency of Kyoto 2 targets and the accounting of emissions from forestry.
Over 35 so-called industrialized nations pledged to sign up to a second Kyoto target at U.N. climate talks in Durban last year. The new deal will legally bind those countries to cut emissions from 2013 until either 2017 or 2020.
Australia, NZ Delay Decision On Signing Kyoto 2 03-May-12 LONDON Planet Ark, Marton Kruppa
Australia and New Zealand have missed a deadline to set post-2012 emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol, with both governments saying they will decide whether to continue to be legally bound to cut emissions of seven greenhouse gases later this year.
Countries intending to sign up to a second round of targets under the 1997 treaty were scheduled to notify the U.N. by Tuesday. But Australia and New Zealand, both of which plan to launch emissions trading schemes and have been tipped to take on fresh legal targets from 2013, failed to meet that deadline.
The EU and several other nations have already indicated they will set a post-2012 legally-binding target, but Canada, Russia and Japan, three big emitters with current Kyoto goals, have said they will not. Australia said it will make a decision only after U.N. parties agree on how long the second Kyoto period would last and how many surplus Kyoto permits can be transferred from the first phase. Continue reading
Woomera,South Australia – the leading state for bomb testing and uranium mining
Vast weapons test site set for mining By Tom Nightingale ABC Radio Sydney May 04, 2012 The Defence Department is changing access rules for mining companies in the potentially-lucrative Woomera weapons testing area.
The vast region in outback South Australia is used for sophisticated and secret weapons testing, but is also estimated to have tens of billions of dollars of uranium, copper, gold, iron ore and coal. A temporary agreement is being negotiated, while legislation for the longer term is set to go before Federal Parliament….
.. “The Gawler Craton is a geological anomaly that we think holds vast reserves of uranium, copper and gold. In terms of copper, about 70 per cent of Australia’s copper reserves are in the WPA, about 40 per cent of world’s uranium reserves are in Olympic Dam. We think there is more in WPA,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
Australia and China – a solar energy story, with more achievement to come
China’s solar story is Australia’s solar story. It is an untold story of Australian innovation and climate change action. Everywhere I went in China, I met Aussies. So many of the leaders of China’s PV industry – indeed the global PV industry – were trained in Australia, at the University of New South Wales or the Australian National University.
Suntech is just one example of Chinese and Australian innovation, action on climate change and strategic investment in solar.
The solar partnership between Australia and China is making the economics of solar persuasive, and the introduction of a carbon price, the establishment of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the continuation of the Renewable Energy Target will open up investment opportunities.
Power in numbers: Tapping the Aus-China solar alliance, REneweconomy, By John Grimes on 4 May 2012 Greg Combet’s recent visit to China for the annual Australia-China Climate Change Forum was a timely reminder of the strong action China is taking to cut its carbon pollution levels and the importance of the partnership between Australia and China in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Nowhere is that partnership more important than in the clean energy space.
As the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, largest population centre and second largest economy, China is facing the extraordinarily difficult challenge of disconnecting its rapid economic growth from soaring greenhouse emissions. China is introducing a pilot emissions trading scheme in seven provinces, with a combined population of 250 million people, before introducing a national emissions trading scheme from 2015-16. China is committed to reducing its national carbon output per unit of GDP by 17 per cent by 2015, and 40-45 per cent by 2020.
China has also made a strategic investment in renewable energy, with the unstated aim of leading the world as it moves into the next industrial revolution. China is already the world’s leading manufacturer and installer of wind turbines and is the home of seven of the world’s top ten solar PV manufacturers (up from four in 2009). It won’t be long before China takes the lead as the largest installer of PV…… Continue reading
Tasmanian wind farm providing jobs, while conventional farming continues, too
Premier Lara Giddings, who yesterday visited the site, said 200 jobs over 18 months was a welcome boost for an area hit hard by the forestry downturn.
Wind farm has plenty of puff http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/05/04/325101_tasmania-news.html BRUCE MOUNSTER | May 04, 2012 YOU just have to look at the trees.. Then, says Hydro Tasmania chief executive Roy Adair, it’s easy to see why the Cape Portland property on Tasmania’s far north-east tip, is considered one of the best wind farm sites in Australia. “The configuration of the trees and the way that they are heavily leaning to one side,” he said.
The 550ha beef, dairy and former woolgrowing property is home to the 56 turbine Musselroe wind farm, now under construction after an eight year gestation. Continue reading
Bega, New South Wales, getting very Smart about Solar Energy
the stored energy can also be fed back into the network at peak demand times – say, at night when people come home and cook dinner, watch television or play computer games, or use their hot water systems for things like showers and washing up
The battery banks can also be configured to be charged from the network, creating a micro-grid
Bega library’s bright future Eden Magnet, BY BEN SMYTH 03 May, 2012 The roof of the Bega library is sporting a new look this week. On Friday, a network of solar panels was installed as part of a project that will see considerable savings for the Bega Valley Shire Council and, in turn, ratepayers.
In a first for regional NSW, Essential Energy is constructing an “intelligent” solar energy system, which will showcase the benefits of community-based renewable energy solutions and effectively make the library self-sufficient in regards to its electricity consumption. According to Essential’s regional general manager south eastern, Phillip Green, who was on hand to launch the project with Member for Bega Andrew Constance, the library’s system is the third phase of the energy company’s “Intelligent Network”. Continue reading
Now they’re trying to blame the Australian govt for doubts about Olympic Dam’s future
You have to sorta scour the news, to realise that the BHP board has not yet decided to go ahead with the new monster Olympic Dam uranium mine. The decision delay is due to the massive cost of the massive project – which won’t make any money for decades.
However – let’s all pounce on the Australian government’s budget plans as the cause of the delay. (Let’s just forget that the project benefits from all sorts og government exemptions, including the new Mining Resources Tax)
Diesel rebate may delay Olympic Dam Sun Herald, by: By Christopher Russell AdelaideNow May 03, 2012 BHP Billiton could be forced to delay expansion of the Olympic Dam mine if the Federal Government scraps its diesel fuel rebate in next week’s Budget, investment analysts say.
The company hinted at an investors’ conference in Sydney yesterday that another major project, at Port Hedland in WA, would be funded before Olympic Dam. Analysts at the conference said a fuel tax change could make the
difference and cause a delay to Olympic Dam….. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/diesel-rebate-may-delay-olympic-dam/story-fn7j19iv-1226345385388
Financial analysts recognise the risks of radioactive by-products of rare earths processing
Uranium and thorium present real risk to rare earths developers – Dennis Mineweb 2 May Interview with Carolyn Dennis of Dundee Capital Markets “….. TCMR: Some rare earth deposits include uranium and thorium byproducts and, if a company is not recovering those, it needs to dispose of them. Is that a challenge most REE miners face?
CD: It’s a real risk across the board for rare earth companies. Each deposit, depending on the type of mineralogy, will have varying grades of uranium and thorium. The jurisdiction the deposit is in and how it approaches dealing with the uranium, thorium and radioactivity will dictate how much of an issue it is for the project. It can be a problem in processing as well. In a lot of cases, the thorium should be removed from the concentrate earlier in the process in order to improve processing downstream. Beyond that, radioactive waste material needs to be disposed of….”
Australia’s Defence to get 12 new submarines – they will not be nuclear
Gillard announces submarine design cash Brisbane Times, May 3, 2012 – AAP The federal government has allocated $214 million to the design phase for 12 new submarines. Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the budget commitment on Thursday.
“In our strategic environment we need strong maritime capabilities and that’s why we need a potent submarine force,” she told reporters in Canberra The 2009 Defence White Paper proposed 12 new advanced submarines to provide Australia with formidable defensive and offensive capabilities. They would replace the six existing Collins class vessels which are set to reach retirement around 2025.
The government previously has said that any new vessels would be built in South Australia and that they would not be nuclear powered…… http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/gillard-announces-submarine-design-cash-20120503-1y07f.html
Australia’s renewed Intervention laws meet strong opposition from Aboriginal elders
NT elders fight Stronger Futures law plans, THE AUSTRALIAN AAP , May 02, 2012 ABORIGINAL leaders from Arnhem Land communities have threatened a revolt against the Federal Government’s Stronger Futures laws by refusing to participate in land lease negotiations or give the nod to mining exploration licences. Continue reading
Sutherland Shire Mayor the last to be told of nuclear waste plan
from our Sutherland Shire correspondent , 2 May 12, ANSTO did not even bother to let the local council, Sutherland Shire Council , know this was occurring [ ABC Illawarra , 97.3fm, 2.5.2012 , 7.36 to 7.40am , Peter Reily, breakfast announcer and Station Manager]. Naturally , this basic lack of common decency and lack of professional coutesy , boardering on arragoncy, did not go down well with the Mayor. She vowed to let ANSTO have a piece of her mind today at a hastily arranged meeting .
Australia should not be involved in any aspect of the nuclear cycle ; yet if we are ,ANSTO and government policy should be consultative and up-front with all members of community before we are forced to consider the policy with the nuclear waste on its way back to us.
This is the problem with this industry : some profit , while the rest of the community pays the price.
No nuclear waste store for Shire, says mayor, SMH, Matthew Moore, David Wroe May 2, 2012 SUTHERLAND Shire Council says a ”people power” campaign by residents might be the only way to stop plans by the nuclear agency to build a nuclear waste storage facility at Lucas Heights….. ANSTO said it wants to build an interim facility to store about 13 cubic metres of waste from 2015 until 2020 while a permanent facility is built, because Australia is required to repatriate its waste under the terms of an agreement made when it sent the material overseas…
. Thefederal government passed legislation earlier this year to set up a single nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. Its preferred site is Muckaty Station, a former cattle station that is now Aboriginal freehold land under control of the Northern Land Council. However the site’s use is strongly opposed by green groups and faces a
Federal Court challenge by local Aborigines.
The temporary storage of the waste in Sydney has been welcomed by Greens and anti-nuclear campaigners. Greens senator Scott Ludlam described it a sensible way to store the waste while a longer-term solution could be found, pointing out that the Lucas Heights site already stored about 15 times as much radioactive waste. : http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/no-nuclear-waste-store-for-shire-says-mayor-20120501-1xx6w.html#ixzz1tkDWwgEQ
Queensland govt – no plans for uranium mining, despite uranium lobbyist Tony McGrady
No plans for uranium mining ban rethink http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-02/no-plans-for-uranium-mining-ban-rethink/3984350?section=business By Stephen Smiley ABC News May 02, 2012 The State Government says it has no plans to revisit Queensland’s ban on uranium mining.
New Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady is advising two uranium companies and also lobbied for the former Bligh government to overturn Labor’s ban on uranium mining. Mr McGrady says he will be talking to the State Government “at every opportunity” about developing a uranium industry in the state’s north-west.
However in a statement, Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps says uranium is not among the new Government’s mining priorities.
Australia’s Renewable Energy Target driving new wind farm projects in S.A. and NSW
the first major PPA for new build wind farm for several years that has been driven by the renewable energy target
Wind energy finally taking off again in Australia, REneweconomy, By Sophie Vorrath 2 May 2012 The Australia wind energy industry looks set to end its near three-year hiatus, as Origin Energy signed its largest ever power purchase agreement, Thai group Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding said it would be adding 200 megawatts of wind turbine capacity in Australia (to its existing 100MW) over the next few years, and REpower Australia prepared to launch a scaled-down version of a new wind farm in NSW. Continue reading
Australia’s State governments fervently slashing renewable energy
Not so fast to the green scheme graveyard Crikey, by Fergus Green, climate change lawyer and policy analyst, 2 May 12, Federalism of the co-operative and unco-operative variety is back in the news. As the July 1 start date for the federal government’s carbon pricing scheme looms, the uppity conservative state premiers’ league is out in force, crying foul about the “tax” and fervently slashing “redundant” and “costly” state-based climate change schemes. Meanwhile, federal programs such as the Renewable Energy Target are under the microscope, with the Coalition and big business calling for an end to this kind of “green tape”
Victoria’s Baillieu government recently accepted the recommendation 
of a review of the Victorian Climate Change Act to scrap the state’s 20% emissions reduction target by 2020 — the latest in a long line of anti-environment, pro-fossil fuels policy developments during its first 16 months in office. Queensland’s newly elected Newman government has opted for a more expeditious approach, axing just about every Queensland government program with a tinge of green — from the $430 million Queensland Climate Change Fund (which provides $30 million a year for climate change initiatives) to the $50 million Smart Energy Savings Program (which helps businesses improve energy efficiency).
Amid this carnage, it is worth considering just what is the appropriate role of complementary state and federal policies in tackling climate change in the context of the new carbon price……
The federal cap only covers a limited number of emissions-producing sectors – notably energy generation, industrial processes, landfill waste and fugitive emissions (for example, methane released from coalmines). Sectors not covered by the scheme include agriculture, forestry and (via changes to the fuel tax and rebate regimes) parts of transport.* Any state or federal government policies that reduce emissions in these sectors will result in abatement beyond that brought about by the federal cap. As the PC points out in its Garnaut Review submission, policies to target these sectors make sense to the extent that they would reduce the costs of achieving an overall national emissions reduction target.
Emissions embodied in the fossil fuels we export, which far exceed our domestic emissions, are not subject to the carbon price either. This gives states (which largely control mining policy) a critical role in influencing global greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/05/01/not-so-fast-to-the-green-scheme-graveyard/
The smart grid and renewable energy are on their way to Australia
“The current electricity system is designed for electricity to flow in one direction, but as we put more renewable energy into the system, more and more electricity will flow in the other direction
with the level of control and intelligence provided by the smart grid, electric car batteries could store power while parked helping balance supply and demand across the network.
Welcome to the smart grid, ABC 1 May 12, JOHN PICKRELL “….Welcome to the world of the smart home and its sister, the smart grid.
Already across Victoria, smart meters are being fitted that tell the grid how much power you’re using, and charge a different rate at peak and off-peak times of day. Last year in the Sydney suburb of Newington, a family of human guinea pigs lived in a smart home created by electricity provider Ausgrid and Sydney Water. This house had a HAN — or energy dashboard — and tested energy- and water-saving technologies, as well as generating its own power from solar cells and a ceramic fuel cell. In this way, the family generated most of their power, some of which they stored in batteries in both the house and their Mitsubishi i-MieV electric car. (Find out more about the smart home here and here) Continue reading
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