Australian govts not promoting solar power industry
the government is clearly more focused on supporting “clean coal” technology in order to protect coal and gas exports.
New French owner committed to Ausra’s solar plans | The Courier-Mail Kerrie Sinclair 14 Feb 2010 While European solar plant companies look to expand into Asia, Australian peers struggle. Continue reading
Northern Territory Intervention all about Uranium and Nuclear Waste Dumping
Stop the Intervention – Neil E Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc – 9 February 2010 “I find the continuation of the racist NT Intervention by the Rudd Government disappointing.
I remind everyone that the Intervention is about access to Aboriginal land by business interests (mining) and the location of a dump for uranium waste.
SA, WA and Qld will not accept uranium waste so we are deluding ourselves the Intervention is anything but accessing Aboriginal land in the NT.
It has NOTHING to do with children.If it was about children, then the Intervention would have occurred elsewhere due to the undeniable fact that child abuse per capita is not as significant in the NT as it is in another State. NT is well down the pecking order.My question is why not have an Intervention in that State rather than the NT? The answer is simple. The Federal Govt does not have the Constitutional power to invade a State like it has in the NT.
Australia’s Maralinga Nuclear Veterans dying out, while they wait for justice
Nuclear veterans want better compo deal Sydney Morning Herald MAX BLENKIN 11 Feb 2010
Britain exploded seven atomic bombs in the South Australian outback in 1956-57 but continued the nuclear test program through to May 1963 with a large number of minor trials of items such as nuclear initiators. Continue reading
Highly radioactive leaking water continues from Ranger uranium mine
Uranium mine leak ‘5400 times normal level’ – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) By Emma Masters Feb 9, 2010 Contaminated water seeping from a mine in Kakadu National Park has a uranium concentration more than 5,000 times the normal level, a Senate estimates committee has heard.
The Office of the Supervising Scientist is the environmental regulator of the Ranger uranium mine, which is owned by Energy Resources of Australia. Continue reading
Wind power going ahead in New South Wales
Hunter Valley energy farm to power homes Sydney Morning Herald February 9, 2010 A $190 million renewable energy farm that will provide power for 47,000 Hunter Valley homes has been given planning approval by the NSW government. Continue reading
Cogeneration energy plant for Queensland sugar mill
Sweet news for Mackay Sugar Cogeneration Project EcoGeneration 10 February 2010
Mackay Sugar has issued contracts for the construction of a $120 million cogeneration power plant at its Racecourse Mill in Queensland. Continue reading
Western Australia makes modest start on promoting renewable energy
WA Gov puts up $10m in funds for green energy tech Third round of funding to encourage the development of sustainable, low-emission technologies Computerworld Staff * 10 February, 2010 Continue reading
Abbott’s Climate Policy very costly – Financial Analyst’s Report
the Coalition proposal would exacerbate the problem and ”put the final nail in the renewable energy industry’s coffin”
Report blasts Abbott climate plan Sydney Morning Herald ADAM MORTON February 10, 2010THE Coalition’s climate change policy would cost taxpayers more than twice as much as the government’s emissions trading scheme, an analysis has found. Continue reading
Martin Ferguson says No Uranium Sales to India
Australian minister rules out uranium export to India DAWN.COM By Afshan Subohi , 11 Feb, 2010 CANBERRA: The Australian government does not intend to export uranium to India, according to Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism Martin Ferguson. Continue reading
Olympic Dam uranium mine’s very costly accident
Olympic Dam accident may cost $228m Matt Chambers The Australian February 11, 2010 THE failure of a hoist at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine last October that sent a full skip of ore plummeting hundreds of metres was caused by a computer braking system fault and could cost the company more than $US200 million ($228.6m) in lost profit………
The October 2009 incident has rendered the Clark shaft unusable and sliced 75 per cent of capacity from the big mine at Roxby Downs in South Australia.
BHP reduces Yeelirrie’s proposed uranium by an ‘uneconomic’ third
BHP cuts Yeelirrie uranium estimate Matt Chambers : The Australian February 09, BHP Billiton has cut projections for its proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine in Western Australia by nearly a third, ruling out a heap acid leach component at the site as uneconomic. Continue reading
Small, beautiful, renewable energy cars
a bright future for a spectrum of ‘micro’ electric vehicles
Meet Trev: A two-seater renewable energy vehicle, by Phil Hart , February 6, 2010 , The Oil Drum: ]Major auto companies are now close to bringing their first electric vehicles onto the market. Continue reading
Australia’s voting system distorts Climate Change action
Queensland and particularly Western Australia, which both
have strong fossil fuels industries, relatively rural dwelling patterns, and populations of about 2m and 4.5m respectively.’……….
The climate policy disconnect: It’s rural voter over-representation Financial Times February 8, by Kate Mackenzie “………..a new paper finds that over-representation of regional voters can make a significant difference to public policy on both gasoline taxes and international climate change agreements… Continue reading
Rudd’s chance to truly address Climate Change
Fortunately, Rudd has been thrown a political and environmental lifeline by the Greens who have proposed the government take up the recommendation made by the Garnaut Report to introduce a transitional carbon tax of $20 a tonne for two years between July 2010 and July 2012.
Rudd missed opportunity to dump failed emissions scheme The Age, Kenneth Diavidson, 8 Feb 2010 February 8, 2010
Government Report has vision for Sustainable Northern Australia
The Taskforce points the way for a sustainable future for the north of Australia – one that must include Aboriginal people at the heart of it.
Greens Challenge Government over Northern Australia Rachel Siewert 8th February 2010, The Australian Greens have challenged the Government to commit to implementing the vision outlined in the Sustainable Development in Northern Australia report released today. Continue reading











