Increased momentum for a national fight against Muckaty Nuclear Waste Dump Plan
“There is growing national concern about Minister Ferguson’s decide-announce-defend approach. The Senate report does not challenge the Minister’s absolute discretion in the site selection process, which will mean continuation of the secretive and bullish process undertaken so far”.
Senate Report Increases Determination to Fight Muckaty Nuclear Dump. The Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI) says a Senate report released today on the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill is deplorable and will invigorate efforts to oppose a dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Australian Government postpones Nuclear Waste Bill, Spurns Discussion with Greens
Ferguson’s response was “I don’t deal with the Greens, why would I deal with the Greens, we don’t deal with the Greens” and walked off.
The government’s strange flip flops on nuclear, Crikey, by Bernard Keane, 13 May 2010, “….This week it [the Australian Government] was preparing to speed its National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 through parliament, with the aid of an unusually compliant opposition. The bill was scheduled for today but has been dropped ahead of higher priority bills. It is expected to return in June. Continue reading
Govt perks to uranium industry in “indigenous” budget
Indigenous- Petrol sniffing, child abuse targeted, ABC Rural News, 11/05/2010…………………Funding will continue for the rehabilitation of the former uranium mining site at Rum Jungle in the Northern Territory, and sorting out Indigenous land access issues.Half a million dollars will be spent on the Working in Partnership Program, to help mining companies work better with Indigenous communities and create more Indigenous mining jobs.Australia’s government provides hasty, stingy compensation to its nuclear veterans
Nuclear veterans short-changed in Budget: Xenophon ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 12 May, 2010, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says veterans of nuclear testing at Maralinga in outback South Australia have been short-changed in the federal Budget.There were atomic tests at Maralinga and Emu Plains about half a century ago.Senator Xenophon says test veterans will get improved benefits under veterans’ entitlements but no lump sum payments.”Russia, France, the US, even China have provided lump sum compensation for their nuclear test survivors but the Government has failed to do so,” he said.”I don’t think that’s good enough given these victims have waited something like half a century to try and get some justice in relation to what they’ve gone through.”Nuclear veterans short-changed in Budget: Xenophon – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
For solar technology, Australian govt backs nuclear company AREVA
short-listed for one of two projects to get substantial backing under the $1.5 billion solar flagships program….none of the big name US and Spanish proponents of the new generation solar tower technologies, such as BritghSource, e-Solar and Cobra, made the short-list.
The giant backing Australian solar, Giles Parkinson | Business Spectator, 12 May 2010, The French nuclear giant Areva might have made one of the deals of the year when it snapped up Ausra, the solar thermal energy company founded by Australian researcher David Mills. Continue reading
AREVA’s grand nuclear empire plans coming unstuck?
it is president Nicolas Sarkozy’s dream to streamline the nuclear power sector, from design to operation, working as a team to win high profile contracts around the world.
French Nuclear Industry Faces Meltdown, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, By Geraldine Amiel May 11, 2010,A much-awaited report on France’s nuclear industry — due out later this week — is understood to offer ways for France’s diverse nuclear industry to work together to garner big contracts around the globe. Continue reading
Super profit resources tax – a reasonable thing in super profit times
10 years ago $1 in every $3 of profit was returned to Australians from rental on a non-renewable resource. Today it is $1 in $7.Profit based taxation does work.
The extraordinary mining tax, CairnsBlog.net, Jan McLucas , 12 May 2010, “……”Royalty and excises are based on volume or value and they do not rise with profits. It is important to remember that in 2008-09 the resource sector generated close to $90 billion of superprofits. Continue reading
BHP blaming govt for uncertain future of uranium mining
he told an uranium summit in Perth that the project was “under review”,
BHP says Western Australia uranium project ‘under review’ Mining Weekly Esmarie Swanepoel 11th May 2010 Continue reading
Paladin makes it clear that regulations are slacker for uranium mining in Africa
Take your pick and get out of Africa | Herald Sun, Olga Galacho , 6 May 2010, IF THE flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause an effect on the other side of the world, then it should follow that certain mining activities in Africa should shame some Australian investors. “………..Details of the 150 ASX-listed or soon to be floated companies with mostly uranium mining interests in Africa have been kindly supplied in the Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group’s submission.It is available here: tinyurl.com/34xw9ez Australian companies now represent the third-largest category of miners in Africa and many of them have been attracted to that continent because of the poor governance of some of its regimes………. Continue reading
Legal challenge preparing against Australia’s plan to dump nuclear waste on aboriginal land
“We find it quite astonishing when we compare their determination against the land commissioner’s report which clearly identifies the traditional owners we’re speaking to as owners of the land.”
Lawyers step in as waste dump gets nod, ABC Alice Springs – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, By Alex Johnson 11 May 2010, A team of solicitors will travel to Tennant Creek today to prepare their case against the Federal Government’s plan to build a nuclear waste dump north of the town. Continue reading
Australia’s proposed nuclear waste dump a target for terrorism
Nuclear waste site a target for terrorists, expert warns, Sydney Morning Herald, LINDSAY MURDOCH DARWIN May 11, 2010 A BRITISH nuclear risk expert has warned that terrorists could target radioactive waste being transported thousands of kilometres across Australia to a proposed waste dump in the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Mad monk Abbott confuses kids over Climate Change
Professor Karoly said: “It seems strange to me that the leader of a political party would be seeking to disagree with Australia’s chief scientist, the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, the overwhelming majority of climate scientists and Australia’s support of the work of the IPCC..
Climate scientists cross with Abbott for taking Christ’s name in vain, Sydney Morning Herald, ADAM MORTON, May 10, 2010 TONY ABBOTT is under pressure to justify telling students it was considerably warmer when Jesus was alive after leading scientists said his claim was wrong. Continue reading
Senate Report toes govt line on dumping nuclear waste on Northern Territory
Senator Ludlam criticised the Bill for its “heavy handed” overriding of Territory and Aboriginal heritage protection laws, and the reliance on secret documents for the nomination of Muckaty.
[The Report]t said an objects clause should be inserted as should an explanation of the minister’s “absolute discretion” on site selection.
Inquiry dumps on Northern Territory, Northern Territory News BEN LANGFORDMay 7th, 2010 THE Senate inquiry into laws which could put a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory has recommended the new legislation be passed.But the inquiry’s report was immediately criticised as “an unbalanced and closed-minded justification for a foregone conclusion” by one of the committee members. Continue reading
Australia: Flawed Senate Report into Radioactive Waste Plan
“This proposed legislation remains controversial and contested. Minister Ferguson’s legislation is a bad deal, not a done deal.”
Senate radioactive dump inquiry deeply flawed, Australian Conservation Foundation, 8 May 2010 A Senate report into laws to authorise a controversial planned nuclear waste in the Northern Territory has failed to make any progress towards responsible radioactive waste management in Australia, the Australian Conservation Foundation said today… Continue reading
Be wary: Australian govt compensation may impede current legal action
Aust Govt to compensate nuke vets, Paul Langley’s Nuclear History Blog, 7 May 2010, “……..This may be very good news for the surviving 2,000 nuclear veterans out of the Australian 8,000 service personnel who were used as target practice for the British nuclear weaponeers,…..
It still leaves the question as to whether the payments will contain clauses impeding the current legal action against the British government, Continue reading












