We now have a real dill, Barnaby Joyce, for a Deputy Prime Minister
When you look at what’s going on in politics in USA – it becomes clear that profound ignorance is no barrier for a man to become a presidential candidate.
But that’s America. Surely in Australia, things are a bit more intelligent! But no. We’ve suffered the international embarrassment of Tony Abbott as PM – with his simplistic three word slogans and quasi religious beliefs on climate etc.
That was bad enough. We breathe a little, now having Malcolm Turnbull, who has the facility for making progressive statements, while sticking to the antediluvian policies of the Liberal Coalition.
But what happens if Malcolm gets knocked over by a bus?
Mon dieu! We now have Barnaby Joyce as Deputy Prime Minister. Internationally and nationally, if Joyce ever gets his hands on the tiller – it won’t just be funny. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Renewable energy news – for a change this week
Journalism highlights of the week :
*Australia’s revolving door – from politician to mining executive and back again: how miners control Australian government policy.
*The horrendous truth about just how big a mess nuclear corporation EDF is in.
Yes, I do get tired of all the doom and gloom – about the nuclear industry – both in its harmful effects, and in its dismal future prospects.
Meanwhile – when I start looking at renewable energy news – well, there’s miles of it! And, not to be discounted, even where I live, I see new solar panels popping up in the neighbourhood every week!
- Renewables boom after ‘two-year drought’.
- Solar thermal power push to keep jobs in Port Augusta, South Australia. Could renewable power be Port Augusta’s saviour? Port Augusta community keenly concerned about renewable energy versus nuclear industry . Adelaide City Council is seeing green.
- Western Australia‘s largest solar installation at Perth shopping complex. Renewable energy micro-grid plannned for Kalbarri, Western Australia.
- Victorian town Newstead set for 100% renewable energy within 5 years.
- Sapphire Wind Farm to bring huge benefits to Australian Capital Territory‘s economy.
- Tasmania needs to ramp up its wind and solar power. Tasmania’s great opportunities in renewable energy.
- Solar energy to the grid: New South Wales‘ Moree solar farm in operation. AGL proceeding with Silverton wind farm project in far west NSW.
- Gas company APA joins throng to spend on renewable energy projects.
- Continued pro nuclear attacks on renewable energy, despite Royal Commission’s findings.developments.
- Australia at risk of missing its 2020 renewable energy target.
POLITICS. From politician to mining executive and back again: how miners control Australian government policy. Greens senator Larissa Waters attacks ‘corrupting influence’ of mining industry – video. Australian govt now admitting no true threat from ‘vigilante’ green groups? New climate brings hope to Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP – FOR LUCAS HEIGHTS TRASH Submissions [due by 11 March]on proposed National Radioactive Waste Management Facility. Will the Australian govt impose a Lucas Heights nuclear waste dump on a South Australian community? Communities fight Turnbull government nuclear waste dump plan. Oman Ama community group to Canberra to reject nuclear waste dump plan. Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg would not meet Communities from outback sites designated for nuclear waste dump. Australia’s Labor and Liberal Parties unite in dismissing community concerns on nuclear waste dumping.
How good to have some positive, clean energy, news
I do get a little tired of publicising negative stuff – but that IS a necessity. There are an awful lot of 
snouts at the trough of dirty energy funding .
It’s just good to remind ourselves of all the positive stuff that really is going on – renewable energy going ahead in leaps and bounds, whether it be large scale solar and wind projects, or small scale stuff – however tiny.
Sure the Australian government, and the Labor opposition, are in the grip of the dirty nuclear and coal lobbies, – but they can’t stop the world-wide popularity, and march forward of clean energy and climate change action.
So much good news in this area, so I’m happy to indulge myself this month in putting the focus on the good stuff.
This week’s Australian nuclear news
As I write, members of nuclear-free groups from across Australia are meeting for 2 days to explore today’s nuclear issues, in particular, about the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission, what it means, and how to respond to it. I’m very disappointed not to be there, because of ill-health, but I look forward to their report, and to plans for preventing this toxic import of nuclear waste, intended by the Commission.
Economist Richard Blandy has analysed the costs and benefits of the Royal Commission’s plan, finding that the so-called “bonanza” for South Australia would begin only after 30 years time, and $27 billion in construction costs of the waste facility. It should then add a relatively modest sector to the economy for 30 years, but be followed by costs and risks that would last for many thousands of years.
Michele Madigan points out the national dangers of transporting nuclear wastes.
Problems with ARPANSA: a not so independent radiation regulator
Suggestion to place Royal Commission nuclear waste imports under South Australia’s Parliament House. If only….
Federal govt search for a place to finally dump Lucas Heights nuclear wastes:
- A Hawke-Howard team to pacify the anti nuclear natives?. Julie Bishop, Christopher Pyne, Bill Shorten do their bit for the pro nuclear dance.
- National Radioactive Waste Management Act overrides any local opposition to nuclear waste dump.
- Aboriginal landowners shocked at plan for nuclear waste dump close to sacred site.
- Nuclear waste dump plan for Kimba – govt ignores relevant standards and codes.
- Senator Scott Ludlam’s motion Feb 22 on nuclear waste dumping and community opposition.
Australian govt lies about medicine and nuclear waste.
CLIMATE Australia breaches Paris climate agreement, damages economy, by cutting CSIRO climate modelling.
Nuclear News , Royal Commission Special This Week
On 15th February Commissioner Kevin Scarce delivered the “tentative findings” of South Australia’s NuclearFuel Cycle Royal Commission. In short, these were:
- Major recommendation for South Australia to make billions by importing, managing, storing and disposing of nuclear waste.
- Low key support for uranium mining expansion.
- Not supportive (at present) for uranium enrichment, further processing. But at the same time favours nuclear fuel leasing.
- Not supportive of nuclear power, but South Australia should prepare for it anyway, perhaps needed later on.
Mainstream Media responses to the report varied from jubilant in South Australia to pretty much ignored in Australia as whole. Alternative media was a lot more probing and critical e.g: The Conversation, REneweconomy, The Australia Institute The Saturday Paper and my own website
However, the significant thing about mainstream media coverage and the lack thereof, is that there seems to be a sort of “nuclear gentlemens’ agreement” that the whole thing only concerns the State of South Australia, not Australia as a whole.
All sorts of issues in this DO concern the rest of Australia – overturning of National Environment and Radiation Laws, sea, rail and road transport of dangerous radioactive trash and the accompanied security problems, secrecy and surveiilance.
Does Australia really want to be the only nation in the world to invite in the world’s radioactive trash? What about Australia’s reputation as safe and clean?
Will the rest of us have to prop up South Australia, bail it out, when the trash import project all comes financially unstuck, and South Australia is left with the biggst “stranded asset” of all time?
The ‘Tentative Findings’ report is posted at: http://nuclearrc.sa.gov.au/tentative-findings/
The deadline for written submissions responding to the interim report is March 18 (see the Royal Commission website for details).
The final report will be published in May 2016.
#NuclearCommissionSAust Ethics – an oxymoron – theme for this week
There’ s nothing ethical about pleasing a few greedy entrepreneurs that think they can make a fortune out of introducing Small Nuclear Reactors to Australia – as the follow-up to South Australia taking in global radioactive trash.
There’s nothing ethical about the lie that taking in global radioactive trash will solve South Australia’s unemployment problem .
There’s nothing ethical about planning to saddle South Australia with the biggest white elephant and stranded asset in human history. A radioactive trash dump makes no money. (That’s why no other country wants to do this)
I could imagine one scenario in which taking in radioactive trash might be ethical. Imagine if one country – for example, Japan, decided to completely shut down all nuclear activities, and had trouble organising a waste repository. A global good citizen, such as Australia, might help them out in this.
But there’s no global citizenship in the Royal Commission plan. It’s not only about greed: it’s also about keeping the toxic global nuclear industry going, at a time when it is pretty much in terminal decline.
Nuclear Royal Commission Special
On February 15 the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission announced its “tentative findings”
And guess what – Surprise Surprise!
After many months of such IMPORTANT pro nuclear persons getting paid large amounts of money to trip around the world, getting expert advice from the likes of France’s near bankrupt AREVA, and the crooked Canadian nuclear hierarchy – they came out with the conclusion that they had already decided upon at the beginning:
AUSTRALIA SHOULD BECOME THE WORLD’S RADIOACTIVE TRASH TOILET!
The subservient media and corporate controlled governments of the rest of Australia have just shut up about this for nearly a whole year, in the pretense that “It’s only a South Australian matter”. They left it to the likes of the nuclear lobby’s puppet “The Adelaide Advertiser” to give information on this purely State matter.
Is it just a State matter? Or is Australia as a whole interested in the Scarce plan for this nation to become the only place in the world to invite in the global nuclear industry’s radioactive poo?
And the only nation foolish enough to think that this will make us prosperous!
News This Week: South Australia Nuclear Waste Plan, and Big Corporations go for Renewable Energy
On Monday February 15, the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Chain (sorry “Cycle’) Royal Commission will announce its “tentative findings” . They’re most likely to concentrate on importing nuclear wastes. The pretense may be kept up, that this is only a South Australian matter. But it’s possible that the Australian media will notice it, and no doubt commend it, too?In this week’s news I single out two significant themes – 1. the analysis of Senator Sean Edwards’ plan for importing nuclear wastes, and 2. the fact that big corporations are investing in renewable energy. Now, isn’t Australia’s Liberal Coalition government supposed to be on the side of business? Are they aware that Telstra and AGL Energy are not, in fact, tree-hugging hippies out to destroy Australia’s economy?
1.
- Australia Institute Analyses Senator Sean Edwards’ Nuclear Plan For South Australia.
- Sean Edwards proposal for nuclear pot of gold – a myth, says South Australia’s Conservation Council.
- Even Adelaide newspaper aware of unrealism of Sen Edwards nuclear fantasy.
- Here’s how the Australia Institute demolishes the argument for importing nuclear waste, and for new nuclear (PRISM) technology.
- Environmental Defenders Office (SA) outlines critical issues in proposal for nuclear waste facility.
- Traditional Owners vow to fight nuclear proposals ahead of the Royal Commission’s draft report
- Greens ready for #NuclearCommissionSAust report “all about waste dumping”
South Australia – decision on nuclear expansion at end of 2016.
Federal:
Hunt for site to dump LucasHeights radioactive trash. Friends of Omanama: A local community’s perspective on national nuclear waste storage. Senator Scott Ludlam backs 6 Australian communities opposing nuclear waste dump. Strong opposition to Hill End nuclear waste plan- petition
A big mistake to gut CSIRO climate change research.
They meant Environment Minister Greg Hunt won World’s Best Milliner (not Minister).
Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency In bushfire season, Solar microgrids and batteries are safer than conventional grid.South Australia Riverland farmers get new crop – harvesting the sun. Clean Energy Finance Corporation funds Energy-efficient housing.
February 6: the week in nuclear news in Australia
UN Panel Report finds in favour of Julian Assange
As usual, all seems to be quiet in this sleepy land of Oz. And yet, and yet – the nuclear lobby is manipulating away as usual, with THE AUSTRALIAN and South AUSTRALIA’s ADVERTISER as its mouthpieces. We are now being told yet again how essential it is to have a centralised nuclear waste dump – for medical reasons, of course. Not true, as Australia’s Medical Association for the Prevention of War reminds us. Australia could have cheaper, safer, non nuclear cyclotrons, at hospitals, to produce medical radioisotopes. No need for that Lucas Heights nuclear reactor.
There’s a Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into Lucas Heights Nuclear Waste Management Facilities.
Jolly Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg says radiation anxieties are based on myth.
Queensland government rejects any nuclear waste dump plan. Queensland disused coal power site could be solar station this year.
South Australia. South Australian community in Kimba alarmed: nuclear waste site “at Minister’s discretion”. South Australia’s Port Augusta at the crossroads: clean renewable energy, or dirty nuclear? Port Augusta Council to consider DP Energy’s big solar/wind project. AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR ASSOCIATION wants nuclear reactors on Spencer Gulf.
Continuing my reviews of Pro Nuclear Submissions to the Royal Commission: Australian Government Submission. That submission also recommends cyclotrons as a method to produce medical isotopes! Charles Waite’s Submission wants tax-payer to buy Small Modular Nuclear Reactors. Christopher Camarsh touts underwater nuclear reactors
New South Wales. Community opposition might stop Hill End nuclear waste dump plan : U-turn by MP John Cobb on nuclear policy
Western Australia. Endangered Marsupial Mole and more at Proposed Australia-Japan (Toro) Uranium Mine in Western Australia, Comment Deadline 8 Feb 2016.
ACT. Canberra’s Williamsdale Solar Farm approved
Victoria. Australia’s dirtiest coal-fired power station launches global campaign for 1,000GW of solar
Renewable energy an economic boon for Australia’s drought affected rural communities. Turnbull copying Abbott as destroyer of renewables, stripping Australian Renewable Energy Agency. AFL Footee Chief Gillon McLachlan a neanderthal anti-wind crusader
Coal and gas.Massive Adani coal mine halted indefinitely due to poor coal market. AGL pulls out of CSG plan in Gloucester as NSW and Queensland projects are abandoned.
South Australia’s Port Augusta at the crossroads: clean renewable energy, or dirty nuclear?
Port Augusta now has the opportunity to be part of Australia’s move into 21st Century clean energy. The DP Energy project for a renewable energy park with wind and solar is up for consideration and public consultation.
What’s the betting that the snake oil salesmen of the nuclear lobby will be exerting pressure against this exciting new venture.
Remember – renewable energy projects can be up and runnning with a year ot two. Compare that with nuclear power’s record of literally decades to have operational. And even that’s in countries where nuclear power plant is permitted by law – which is not the case in Australia.
Readers of this site may be aware that sevral Submissions to the South Australia Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission have their sights set on Port Augusta. For example, the one on this page, from the Australian Nuclear Association – that persistent lobbyist and publicist for the nuclear industry.
How do communities in other countries feel about hosting nuclear waste dumps?
The Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission in full swing in South Australia , (though ignored in Australia at large), with its plan to import nuclear wastes.
It is timely to ask why foreign countries might want to send their radioactive trash here.
After all, the nuclear lobby keeps telling us that radioactive trash is a RESOURCE, not WASTES. So why wouldn’t other countries want to keep it, and get rich from new purportedly “waste eating” nuclear reactors?
An article from an American County is relevant to this discussion in Australia. As you read, you will get a whiff of the problem in USA.
Rocky road for nuclear waste bore hole study, http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/rocky-road-for-nuclear-waste-bore-hole-study/article_7698d465-0316-5031-83e9-bc727d3592b9.html By Lauren Donovan, A plan to explore deep ancient rock in Pierce County for its potential to store nuclear waste hit a bumpy road if not a rock wall in its first introduction to state officials Thursday.
The State Board of University and School Lands heard from the Energy and Environmental Research Center at Grand Forks that its team was awarded $35 million by the federal Department of Energy to drill 16,000 feet down into crystalline rock to learn whether the rock could suitably store spent nuclear fuels.
John Harju, project liaison, said the bore hole is for study purposes only, no waste would be stored there and that such storage isn’t even yet legal under federal rules.
Harju said the bore hole would be an opportunity to analyze rock core that’s rarely ever been looked at for minerals or geothermal properties. The chance to go that deep, into the oldest rock on the planet, “may never present itself again,” Harju said.
The issue was presented to the land board because EERC is proposing to drill on 20 acres of state-owned land about 15 miles south of Rugby.
Pierce County commissioners were at the meeting and said they were startled to read about the project before anyone from EERC even came to the county.
Commissioner Duane Johnston said, if the issue had come up at a local zoning meeting, “half the county would have been there to say no.” Commission chairman Dave Migler said it was tough to take calls from residents and not have much information to share. “It’d be nice to be in the loop,” he said.
While there was no formal application on the table, land board members didn’t hesitate to weigh in with worries that a federal project could become a federal mandate.
In the end, it was far from clear how the EERC would proceed with getting approval to use public land for the project in Pierce County, or perhaps anywhere in the state.
Afterward, Harju said he was a little surprised by his reception. “Plan B? We don’t have one. If the project is not able to proceed, the DOE will have to evaluate” alternatives, he said.
The five-year project was awarded to the Battelle Memorial Institute of Ohio, along with EERC and Schlumberger, a familiar drilling service company in the Bakken. The crystalline rock formation underlies much of the continent.
Nuclear News Australia, at the end of January 16
New South Wales. Hill End community remains resolute against radioactive waste plan.
South Australia. Anti nuclear atomic physicist is South Australia’s Senior Citizen of The Year. South Australian Cabinet nuclear stooge Leesa Vlahos already spruiking for nukes!.
Just a few of the pro nuclear Submissions to South Australia’s Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission :
- Business South Australia wants nuclear waste import, is worried about public opinion.
- Australia should not be guinea pig for new nuclear reactors – Australia’s Chief Scientist.
- ASSOCIATION OF MINING AND EXPLORATION COMPANIES (AMEC) wants Pro Nuclear Public Education.
- George Bereznai‘s Submission to #NuclearCommissionSAust – religious faith in “new nukes”.
- Geoff Russell Submission to #NuclearCommissionSAust: convince public that radiation is OK.
Western Australia KARLALMYI WALK: 5th – 12th June 2016 anti uranium mining .
CLIMATE:RENEWABLE ENERGY Science researcher debunks Tony Abbott’s climate claims. End for mains-only power, with solar energy storage?
Why on earth is the nuclear issue taboo in Australia ?
Why on earth have Australian governments, media, and corporate world been able to put it over the Australian public? I think that the mainstream media are especially to blame? Are they really that stupid? Are their jobs really on the line? So that they can just keep mum about what’s going on in South Australia, because it’s only a South Australian issue?
Only today The Ecologist has discussed the serious terrorism risk in transporting nuclear waste across the world. It is serious concern in UK, USA, in Japan – wherever nuclear waste is piling up.
Only in Australia it doesn’t matter, apparently. Doesn’t get a mention in the articles about what issues Australia faces in 2016. No mention of this very dubious Royal Commission in South Australia. No mention that the ALP will be reviewing its policy on nuclear power.
No other country in the world has considered a nuclear waste importing industry. USA and Japan tried it on Mongolia, receiving a strong and definitive knock-back.
Because of course – it matters only to South Australia?
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission will release its Tentative Findings in Adelaide on Monday 15 February 2016.
“The Commission will then undertake a week-long public information program, visiting key regional South Australian cities and towns including Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Whyalla, Port Lincoln, Mt Gambier, Ceduna, Renmark and Aboriginal communities in the Far North and West Coast.
Commissioner Kevin Scarce said the release of the Tentative Findings would provide an opportunity to update progress and highlight how the community might comment on the report during a five week feedback period…..
“The Tentative Findings will be a document that reflects the Commission’s current thinking and the evidence behind it. The community then has five weeks to provide written comments on the findings and the evidence upon which it is based.
The Tentative Findings will be available to download from thewww.nuclearrc.sa.gov.au from 11am, February 15, 2016 or by contacting the office on 08 8207 1480. Feedback on the Tentative Findings can be provided to the Commission via its website, email or through traditional mail delivery. Details on this process will be on the NFCRC website soon.”
Royal Commission Public Meeting details:
* Monday, 15 February – Adelaide Town Hall (6pm)
* Tuesday, 16 February – Port Pirie Yacht Club (1pm), Port Augusta Institute Theatre (6pm), Ceduna Foreshore Hotel (6pm)
* Wednesday, 17 February – Whyalla Mt Laura Homestead (12.00pm), Port Lincoln Hotel (6.30pm), Coober Pedy United Club (6pm)
* Thursday, 18 February – Mt Gambier Main Complex (6.30pm) Renmark Hotel Galaxy Room (6pm)
* APY, Umuwa and Oak Valley community meetings are also being planned for February.
Australia: nuclear news this week
Mercifully short newslist today – I hope. I’ve been preoccupied with reading all the dreary pro nuclear Submissions to the South Australia Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission. (You can read the Submissions here, or my potted versions here. )
Nearly all pro nuclear Submissions come from people with either obvious or vested interests in the nuclear industry, (in contrast to the variety of sources of anti nuclear Submissions)
Anyway, the Commission will announce its tentative findings on 15 February. These are their likely recommendations. The pro nuke lobby is beavering away, lobbying especially lobbying the ALP.
My favourite pro nuke Submissions come from Geoff Russell, who sent in two. I am indebted to the Twitter troll “Thomas Huxley” for recommending these as “essential reading” . Russell devotes his confusing jargon to rubbishing thee media, reputable authors, governments, because he knows, and ?proves it with confusing jargon, that ionising radiation is just nothing to worry about. Falling off a solar roof is the big public heath worry. Another Geoff, Geoff Hudson, wants the Commission to go for floating nuclear reactors at sea.
South Australian Cabinet gets two new pro nuclear enthusiasts.
Australian Nuclear science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) not honest about cyclotrons.
The campaign against Oman Ama nuclear dump site is gaining momentum.
Mongolia secret [but failed] nuclear waste deal – a model for Australia?
Oh my God! Global Warming Is Affecting The TENNIS!
Australia’s Nuclear News at the start of 2016
Well, there isn’t much, it would seem. And yet, and yet. I gaze into my magical witches globe, and what do I see? Why , it is Kevin Scarce, and the entire Australian nuclear lobby, feverishly spinning a web of confusion for the report, (due on 15th February) of the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission.
What they want, is want they wanted before the charade even started – Australia to decide to be the first country in the world to announce itself as the world’s nuclear toilet. But, more than that, it’s the underlying imperative to set up the entire nuclear fuel chain in this country. South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill no doubt thinks that this will save his political skin. We await what will be a tome, or should I say tomb? of doublespeak.
On February 15, Dr Helen Caldicott will be speaking in Adelaide on this issue, (prior to setting off for St Louis County, USA, where there continues to be a nuclear waste pollution and fire threat drama)
Also, bubbling along quietly, residents strengthen their opposition to proposal for Lucas Heights nuclear waste dumping in their area. Meanwhile, solar and wind energy initiatives are happening.
I will continue to examine the Submissions to the Nuclear Royal Commission, with extracts on my website https://antinuclear.net/. Particular emphasis on the pro nuclear ones.
1 This month
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 
