How Australia’s Liberal Party plans to help corporations overcome environmental regulations
Under this Liberal National Party plan, a nuclear obsessed government such as South Australia’s, could make environmental decisions that really affect the whole country – C.M.
Coalition’s Greg Hunt to create one-stop approval, BY:SID MAHER , THE AUSTRALIAN, October 01, 2011 GOVERNMENT environmental approval processes will be streamlined and consent will be deemed to have been granted if deadlines are not met under a Coalition policy aimed at lifting productivity and attracting investment.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt plans changes, to be unveiled this weekend, to simplify federal environment laws and regulations to allow a “one-stop shop” approach to major environmental approvals.
“We absolutely want to radically decrease costs, delays and uncertainties in the approvals process,” Mr Hunt said….
Under the plan, states and territories will be able to act as a one-stop shop for all environmental approvals. In the case of major projects, such as offshore assessments, the states could hand their approvals to the commonwealth as the sole designated assessor….
Mr Hunt said the incentive for participation by individual states would be “competitive federalism”, with states that choose to participate having a “significant advantage”.
IAE predicts solar energy boom – will Australia miss out?
….. the IEA will produce a study that predicts more than half the world’s energy needs, and most of its electricity needs, will come from solar energy sources by 2060. The question that Australia needs to ask itself, as it signs yet another multibillion-dollar contract to develop LNG resources, is how it is placed to benefit from a solar future that will dominate future energy sources in the same way as coal and oil has in the past….
Ferguson, like the IEA, has mostly been interested in protecting the supply of fossil fuels for export or use at home, …
Will Australia miss the global solar boom? Crikey.com, 29 Sept 11, by Giles Parkinson of Climate Spectator “……In the past couple of years, however, the IEA has focused more on different scenarios for the world’s future energy needs — both in terms of energy security and in reducing emissions. In doing so, it has emerged as one of the world’s most bullish proponents of renewable energy, in particular solar.Federal
Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson next month will have the honour of chairing the biennial meeting of 36 energy ministers hosted by the International Energy Agency. The topic will be the world’s energy future, and the contents are likely to be surprising — so much so that Ferguson may have cause to consider if Australia is well prepared for the energy revolution ahead.Since its establishment in the 1970s, after the oil price shock, the IEA’s principal mandate has been around the protection of oil supplies, and its forecasts for the world’s long-term energy mix were viewed — particularly by those pushing renewables — with some suspicion. Continue reading
Radioactive dust storms from uranium mine will threaten Australia’s cities
Dust storm envelopes Coober Pedy, South Australia – September 27 11, Christina Macpherson Dust storms can travel thousands of km, from South Australia – the Olympic Dam uranium mine area, to three capital cities, and even to New Zealand.
These winds travelled similarly to the 2009 Red Dust storm and went across to NSW and through Victoria. Coober Pedy is just East of Emu Field.
Weather forecast was : A vigorous front moving across South Australia 28 September 2011, with west to southwest winds averaging 60-km/h with damaging wind gusts in excess of 80 km/h
RED DUST STORM TWO YEARS AGO to the week was: Forecast September 2009 A vigorous front moving across South Australia 22-25 September [2009], with west to southwest winds averaging 60-70 km/h with damaging wind gusts in excess
of 90 km/h.
This time around, Australia’s capital cities have been lucky. Not like two years ago, when dust covered dozens of towns and cities in three states, affecting Adelaide , Melbourne and blanketing Sydney. The dust from the Olympic Dam region might have carried radioactivity – the uranium mine then , and now, 
an underground mine.
But what happens when Olympic Dam uranium mine becomes the world’s biggest open cut mine?
Similar wind storms will happen. But then the winds will be carrying the radioactive dust from BHP Billiton’s massive mountain of tailings. The waste rockpile (overburden) will be an enormous mountain on the landscape, 150 metres high and up to 8 kilometres wide.
BHP Billiton themselves admit – or is it boast ? – that this giant mine will alter the region’s weather patterns – to such an extent that aircraft flight paths will have to be changed.
Wake up, city-dwelling Australians – the radioactive threat of Olympic Dam means that Coober Pedy’s dust storms will concern you, too
Expansion of Olympic Damn uranium mining is not yet certain
it is a lengthy process as BHP lines up all the necessary government approvals before taking the project to its board next year.
South Australia digs deep to take part in mining boom Telegraph UK 28 Sept 11, Deep in the South Australian outback, change is in the air. Quite literally in fact, since the plans under way to develop the Olympic Dam mine will create a site so vast that it is expected to affect local weather patterns.
Negotiations are now in advanced stages to give BHP Billiton the go–ahead to turn its existing operation some 560km (350 miles) north of Adelaide into the world’s biggest open cast mine. Continue reading
Barry Jones brings some much needed common sense to the climate change ‘debate’
a way of evaluating the risk of action v. non-action:
* If we take action and disaster is averted, there will be massive avoidance of human suffering.
* If we take action and the climate change problem abates for other reasons little is lost and we benefit from a cleaner environment.
* If we fail to act and disaster results then massive suffering will have been aggravated by stupidity.
* If we do not take action and there is no disaster, the outcome will be due to luck alone, like an idiot winning the lottery…
Climate change debate? Pity about the science, ABC Radio National 2 Oct 11, Barry Jones was Minister for Science in Bob Hawke’s government and is a Fellow of all four of Australia’s Learned Academies. Today he discusses the development and the debate of climate science over the years… Continue reading
Australia’s Lynas corporation accused of fraud – secrecy over radioactive waste disposal
Malaysian MP accuses Australian company of fraud, 702 ABC Sydney , 29 Sept 11, South East Asia correspondent A Malaysian MP has accused an Australian company of corporate fraud in relation to the building of an ore processing plant in Malaysia.
The Lynas Corp plant will process ore from Western Australia in Malaysia, extracting rare earth minerals for hi-tech manufacturing. The ore contains low levels of radiation, but the Australian company says its plant will be safe.
But Malaysian MP Fuziah Salleh has lodged an official complaint with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). In a letter to ASIC, she says the company promised the International Atomic Energy Agency it would intensify consultation.
She says the company’s failure to publicly release a waste disposal plan amounts to corporate fraud…..The plant is expected to be complete by the end of the year..
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-29/malaysian-mp-accuses-australian-company-of-fraud/3034900/?site=sydney
Danger of transporting nuclear waste through Australia’s major food bowl
Nuclear waste transport opposed in South Australia 9 News, 29 Sept 11, A plan to ship nuclear waste through the South Australian Riverland puts one of Australia’s major food bowls at risk, the state opposition says. Riverland Liberal MP Tim Whetsone said the state government was totally opposed to a nuclear waste dump being located in South Australia and must take the same stand against the transport of nuclear waste.
A federal government report has advised against transporting waste from the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney throughthe Blue Mountains to a proposed nuclear dump in the Northern Territory.
Instead it suggests shipping the waste by road through South Australia. Mr Whetstone said that would put the Riverland’s food production at risk of contamination along with water supplies from the Murray. “Much of this production is export focused and transporting nuclear waste through the Riverland sends a bad message to critical export markets,” he said.
“Transporting waste along the Sturt Highway will involve nuclear waste being in close proximity to the River Murray for much of the journey. “The risk to SA’s water supplies is unacceptable….
Call to sack Australia’s Resources Minister, over his deceitful handling of nuclear waste issue
Dr Jim Green said: “Mr Ferguson’s handling of this dump issue has been misleading,
undemocratic, secretive and in violation of binding Labor Party platform policy. He is treating South Australians with contempt. Prime Minister Gillard should sort out this mess by replacing Mr Ferguson with someone better suited to the task of managing a difficult and contentious issue.”
MARTIN FERGUSON MISLEADS SA ON NUCLEAR DUMP, 28 September 2011, Federal resources minister Martin Ferguson’s mishandling of the contentious plan to truck nuclear waste through SA to a dump site in the NT reached a new low with his misleading comments on ABC Riverland radio this morning.
Mr Ferguson claimed that no decision had been made on a dump site. However he is pushing the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill (NRWMB) through Parliament. The Bill targets Muckaty in the NT as the only site under active consideration for a dump site despite the fact that MuckatyTraditional Owners are challenging the nomination in the Federal Court, and despite NT legislation banning the imposition of a nuclear dump. Continue reading
Australian govt’s corporate welfare to the Big Non Australian BHP Billiton
“The fuel tax credits effectively act as a massive subsidy for BHP Billiton, begging the questions as to why the Federal Government is subsidising one of the largest mining companies in the world.” said Nectaria Calan of Friends of the Earth Adelaide.
Once known as the “Big Australian,” BHP is now 76 per cent foreign owned, so whilst the Federal Government is funneling taxpayers money into the company, the vast majority of its profits will end up overseas.
BHP Billiton – record profits and still on corporate welfare, 30 Sept 11 The Olympic Dam Expansion Draft Environmental Impact Statement states that the proposed new mine will require 346 million litres of diesel per year in its initial development stage, 394 million litres per year in the intermediate stage, and over 490 million litres per year at full production. This is in addition to the 26 million litres per year currently used at the mine.
Under current fuel tax credit rates, BHP stands to gain $128 million per year in diesel rebates in the initial development period of the mine, $144 million per year in the intermediate stage, and $178 million per year at full production. Continue reading
Uranium mining’s horrible year continues – Paladin and Uranex
Paladin raising fails to impress, SMH, Peter Ker, September 30, 2011 “……Paladin has endured an annus horribilus this year, as an easing uranium price, rising costs, reduced production targets and concerns about debts have savaged the company’s share price to barely a quarter of its former value…..
Fall in uranium miner Paladin’s market value
Reuters Australian Business News, SYDNEY, Sept 29 2011 “…..Paladin Energy yesterday launched a A$70 million equity raising through UBS and RBC Capital Markets due to unforeseen cost increases at its two African projects. Costs at the uranium producer’s newest mine, the Kayelekera development in Malawi, have risen to A$50 a pound of uranium oxide. Paladin’s market value has fallen from over A$5 million to A$1 million after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March depressed uranium equities markets ….”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/28/digest-australia-business-idUSL3E7KS3Z120110928
Australia’s Climate Change future- more important than politics
Under the Gillard government’s proposed carbon tax, the revenue will be recycled to ensure that 90 per cent of households will be no worse off and that compensation will be paid to the most trade-exposed industries.
The science is clear. And if countries such as China continue their massive drive to reduce their reliance on carbon-intensive industries, most of the new mines on which Australia’s present prosperity depends will become stranded assets within five years…
On climate change, it’s all-out war, September 26, 2011, The Age, Kenneth Davidson, The world continues to pour billions into fossil fuels. It makes no sense. AN OLD Chinese proverb points out the longest journey starts with the first step. The carbon tax now being debated in Australia may seem revolutionary, but mea
sured against the science it is microscopic compared with the steps that will be needed within the next few years to keep global warming within 2 degrees.
And even a warming of the planet by 2 degrees will be no picnic. Already, with the global temperature 0.8 degrees above the level before the Industrial Revolution, extreme weather involving drought, flooding rains and extreme heat and bushfires has adversely affected Australia’s economic growth and people’s lives. Worse, irrespective of what measures are taken now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is at least a further 0.6 degrees of warming in the pipeline as the existing build-up of greenhouse gases takes its toll on the climate.
Australian company Lynas has no long term radioactive waste management plan for its Malaysian project
Lynas back to earth after loss, The Age, Greg Roberts, September 24, 2011, AUSTRALIA’S largest rare-earths miner, Lynas Corporation, has posted a 33 per cent widening in its full-year loss following a year blighted by controversy. Public protests this year prompted an investigation by the International Atomic Energy Agency into whether the Lynas rare-earth refinery in Malaysia presented radioactive risks….
Lynas’s operating expenses shot up 87.5 per cent from $30.65 million to $57.46 million. It says 11,000 tonnes a year of rare-earth oxides will be produced at Mount Weld.
Lynas received a favourable report from the IAEA about the refinery in Kuantan, but has been told to provide a long-term waste-management plan. More than 60 per cent of the refinery has been built. It is hoped the plant will curtail China’s monopoly of more than 95 per cent of the global supply of rare earths…… http://www.theage.com.au/business/lynas-back-to-earth-after-loss-20110923-1kped.html#ixzz1Yv9BaYWp
Historic Native title win for Western Australian Aboriginals over mining company
Native title blocks Weld Range mine project, PAUL CLEARY , The Australian, September 24, 2011 THE Wajarri Yamatji people of Western Australia’s Weld Range have long believed that their land was special. Now, the National Native Title Tribunal has decided the rock art, ochre mines and ancient ceremonial grounds are more valuable than $7 billion of minerals in the ground.
A ruling this week by tribunal deputy president Chris Sumner marked just the second time that it has rejected a mining application. Weld Range contains the Wilgie Mia Aboriginal site, given national heritage listing this year by the federal government.
Mr Sumner said it was an area of “outstanding importance”. It includes an ochre mine that has been worked for 30,000 years.
Traditional owner Colin Hamlet said he was “feeling really proud that we’re actually getting some notice”. He said the region offered great tourism potential because it had “a wealth of stuff”. Simon Hawkins, the chief executive of the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, which represented the Wajarri Yamatji people, said the success reflected the “consistent approach” of the traditional owners in outlining the heritage value of the land……http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/native-title-blocks-weld-range-mine-project/story-e6frgczx-1226144919702
Victorian country town – 90% of households want action for renewable energy
Residents plan for renewable energy, Stawell Times News 23 Sep, 2011 STAWELL REGION – Stawell Climate Action Group has handed over the results of a survey about renewable energy to Federal Member for Mallee, John Forrest.
Group spokesperson, Julie Andrew said of the 105 Stawell households that were surveyed, 91 percent wanted strong policies to support new jobs and investment in renewable energy. She said a remarkable 90 percent of those surveyed wanted Australia to develop a plan to move to 100 percent renewable energy.
“We found when we talked with people and shared information, people in our region overwhelmingly want to talk about solutions,” Ms Andrew said. “They want to get behind a positive vision. They are tired of the negativity and bickering by politicians and just want our elected representatives to get on and do something.”
Ms Andrew said Stawell Climate Action Group asked Mr Forrest to tell the group his plan for how it could get serious renewable energy investment flowing into the Stawell area and making renewable energy more affordable for all Australians……. It’s time we got on with it and unlocked the potential of renewable energy like solar and wind in our area and we will keep working to see that happen.” http://www.stawelltimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/residents-plan-for-renewable-energy/2301627.aspx
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