Roundup of the week’s Australian nuclear news
Legal cases. Against Olympic Dam. Aboriginal elder Kevin Buzzacott continuing his Davis and Goliath case against BHP Billiton, on the environmental impact of the planned new big Olympic Dam uranium mine. Planned Muckaty nuclear waste dump. Federal government is likely to proceed with this, even if the Aborignal landowners win their court action against it. All in the long established tradition of racism in Australian nuclear/uranium matters. But the Aboriginal legal challenge will continue.
Renewable energy. As July 1st approaches, fossil fuel companies, and their State Liberal government friends are redoubling their attacks on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and on wind energy. With the falling costs of photovolcaic solar energy, renewable energy is starting to look too good for comfort, and could change the public’s view of the Gillard government.
Queensland. The election here has given the fossil fuel industries pretty much open slather, and especially pleasing to them, nuclear industry included, is the way that the new Premier is taking the axe to climate change action, and to renewable energy projects. The Solar Dawn thermal energy project is the most significant of many to be facing the chop.
Uranium exploration in New South Wales. The NSW Upper House passed this bill – 20 votes to 18. The Bill is quite draconian – it extinguishes the need for consent from a Land Council in the case of uranium projects- and excludes uranium from provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983
USA military stations in Australia. The first of 2500 U.S. marines arrive in Darwin. It is likely that they will be exempt rom Australian criminal law. USA drones and more USA nuclear submarines. This is concerning security analysts, such as Hugh White, as Australia aligns itself with USA militarisation of the region, against our most important trading partner, China.
Lynas rare earths company. The sag continues, with Malaysia currently insisting that Australia agrees to the return of its radioactive wastes to Australia. The Australian government is lying doggo on this question
Future Fund: push to stop Australia’s Future Fund investing in the production of nuclear weapons.
Fear and loathing of renewable energy, on the part of BHP, Rio Tinto etc, and South Australia’s Liberal Party
2 April 12, Miners attack Clean Energy Finance Corporation . South Australian Liberals raise hindrances to wind energy development
You can understand it. On the one hand, a corporation’s sole purpose is to make money for its shareholders, especially in the short term. For the Liberal Party, the goal is to please its main backers.
With July 1st looming closer,there is a danger that the Gillard government’s carbon tax, complete with its compensations, will be a success. Worse still – its renewable energy provisions might take off, and become very successful – as renewable energy has become elsewhere led by Germany.
We can’t have that!. So, A coalition of nine mining groups, including BHP and Rio Tinto, demands that Labor’s $10bn Clean Energy Finance Corporation and renewable energy target be ‘reconsidered’ (reported in THE AUSTRALIAN today)
Meanwhile in South Australia, a Parliamentary Inquiry, pushed for by Liberal Opposition frontbencher David Ridgway , will study the distress and discomfort caused by wind turbines, to nearby communities.
I find it quite amazing that the Liberal Party enthuses not only over uranium mining, but over the possibility of nuclear power plants and radioactive waste importation – the cancer-causing hazards of the nuclear industry don’t seem to bother them.
Well. not nearly as much as the risk of renewable energy being an economic success. – Christina Macpherson
The week that was
Australia:
Muckaty nuclear waste dump: Aboriginal landowners legal case against it will continue. The Federal Court in Melbourne ruled that that it can, and that previously secret documents can be made public. Medical experts reiterate that this dump is not needed for nuclear medicine. Meanwhile South Australians are becoming concerned at plans to transport the radioactive wastes through their State. Renmark may make their area a nuclear free zone.
Julia Gillard at Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. Australia’s claims of promoting nuclear security and non proliferation sound hollow, as Australia will flout the Non Proliferation Treaty by selling uranium to India, as well as being a major provider of uranium to a number of nuclear weapons states anyway. On the sidelines of the Summit, Julia discussed USA-Australia co-operation with Obama. Plans for Australia to host USA spy drone aircraft, and to host an increased number of USA nuclear attack submarines at Garden Island in Perth.
North Korea does remain a worry for the world, and its next missile launch is for the first time, expected to impact an area roughly between Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines,
Earthquakes in South Australia. A worrying series of earthquakes, the latest 3.9 magnitude at 10 km from Olympic Dam uranium mine, and all happening in areas of uranium ore and potential for mining.
Renewable energy: The Southern Cross Renewable Energy Fund will form part of the government’s $3.2 billion Australian Renewable Energy Agency when it starts on 1 July 2012. Exciting opening for Australian renewable energy businesses. Eco Whisper turbine, the world’s quietest 20kW wind turbine, is being installed and will be connected to the grid near Tullamarine in Melbourne. All not a moment too soon, with utility companies gearing up to fight, as Germany’s success in renewable energy becoming a clear example.
Victoria and NSW. The natives are getting restless about the two governments’ anti wind power regulations – Ballarat and Lake Macquarie pushing for solar and wind energy.
Xstrata in Queensland wins Land Court case over environmental objections by Friends of the Earth.to go ahead with gigantic coal mine north of Toowomba. A worrying precedent, as Xstrata merges with environmental vandal Glencore.
Uranium exploration in NSW: thousands petition against this, and environment groups call for an independent public review on uranium mining in NSW.
Bullying at Australian Nuclear and Scientific Organisation (ANSTO): a third employee takes legal action against ANSTO.
Australians’ ‘moral duty’ to dump nuclear wastes on Aboriginal land – Ferguson
If you read, or listen to, this ABC TV story, it gives an insight into the question of storing radioactive wastes. Medical experts explain the management of the short-lived medical radioactive wastes. A radiology expert explains that the major waste problem is the nuclear wastes generated by the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor.
The point of view of the Aboriginal landowners is shown.
Martin Ferguson continues to claim that the purpose of the Muckaty dump is to store ‘medical wastes” – ” — “It is a 
moral issue. If you want access to nuclear medicine then take on the responsibility of storing your waste.”
So Ferguson is more or less telling Australians that -” no Muckaty waste dump, no nuclear medicine for you”. Apparently it is also our ‘moral duty’ to impose these wastes on Aboriginal people, whether they like it or not. Of course, we can always bribe them by providing the living standard facilities that the rest of us get, anyway, without having to host a nuclear waste dump.
National radioactive waste dump faces resistance Australian Broadcasting Corporation Broadcast: 21/03/2012 Reporter: Rebecca Baillie http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3460703.htm
Wrap up of the week’s antinuclear news – Australia
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Radioactive waste dump. Aborigines legal battle continues, against nuclear waste dumping at Muckaty Station. Public Health Association of Australia says it is not needed for medical wastes. Liberal M.P. Andrew Thomson wants Australia to import and store radioactive debris from Japan.
Liberal and Labor parties getting indistinguishable from each other. They voted together for the waste dump. They voted together to support Australia buying USA nuclear submarines – and then they voted together again to reverse that vote! Liberal Party praising Bob Carr for his being pro nuclear. It’s a mutual admiration political society. They also agreed on the importance of the Nuclear non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) – but both still happy to sell uranium to India (a non signatory to the NPT) Victoria. With the rhineros hide of a man “born to rule”, Premier Baillieu ignores the economic and job prospects of renewable energy for Victoria, and prevents new wind projects, while forging ahead with dirty brown coal.
Lynas – Australian rare earths corporation still much in the news, and getting more so, as it is an election issue in Malaysia. And did they agree to return radioactive wastes to Australia?
ANSTO – in the poo for having bullied their employees, in order to shut them up about radiation and health concerns.
Wrap up of the week’s nuclear news
Radioactive wastes Liberals and Labor unite in the Senate to rush through the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill. However, the Greens managed to get included an important amendment against international wastes being included. Opposition to this legislation continues. Aboriginal landowners continue their legal fight against the Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan.
Fukushima anniversary: Australians in all States and Territories held anti nuclear, anti uranium rallies on 11th March, anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe.
Bob Carr: Surprise surprise. Bob Carr, parachuted into the Senate, NOT ELECTED, comes out as a mover and shaker for nuclear power.
Victoria’s Baillieu government: Victoria’s Liberal government.s’ disconnect with voters. Opinion poll shows Victoria;’s Baillieu government’s laws on climate change, are opposite to the wishes of most voters. Stawell Climate Action Group calls on the area’s National Party M.P. to back Clean Energy Finance Corporation and solar power.
New South Wales Premier O’Farrell delighted with Sydney as host for Clean Energy Finance Corporation, even though Abbott ‘s Liberal opposition is opposed to this climate action initiative.
Lynas rare earths problem, as legal hearing continues. Where to send its radioactive wastes? to Australia?
BHP Billiton’s OLympic Dam new mega uranium mine far from being a done deal, but BHP planning a grandiose tower in Adelaide to celebrate it.
Solar rebates: The federal government suddenly shuts down the solar hot water rebate (Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme) – damaging the emerging solar industry, with the loss of thousands of jobs.
Bad taste nuclear award goes to Ziggy Switkowski
On the anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, Australia’s top nuclear salesman, Ziggy Switkowski, comes out in praise of nuclear power as the only clean energy option.
I can only assume that this is yet another repeat of Ziggy’s ignorant and deceptive sales message. He usually 
completely ignores or dismisses any health risk from ‘low level’ ionising radiation, as well as risks of nuclear weapons, terrorism, nuclear wars. And in general, Ziggy prefers to keep off the subject of nuclear wastes, and especially of the astronomic costs thereof.
But I can’t be sure. Because I haven’t paid up to be permitted to read THE AUSTRALIAN – Australia’s Murdoch mouthpiece for the fossil fuel/nuclear industries. And I don’t intend to pay up for Murdoch’s tripe, either.- Christina Macpherson
Ziggy Switkowski: There is only one clean energy option, THE AUSTRALIAN, 12 March 12
BY necessity, pragmatism will overcome fear when it comes to nuclear power.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/after-fukushima-there-is-still-only-one-clean-energy-option/story-e6frgd0x-1226296364889
The mess that is the Lynas rare earths project in Malaysia
First of all – then world does need rare earths. They are needed for wind turbines, electric cars, mobile phones, and many other smart things that mean progress in the 21st Century.
So – where’s the problem? Well it seems to me that there is a cloud of secrecy and deception surrounding Australian Corporation Lynas and its rare earths project in Malaysia.
Doubletalk is going on as we see in news items lower on this page.: Western Australia ‘would not accept responsibility for any waste produced by Lynas Malaysia ‘ ‘the Western Australian government does not support the import and storage of other countries’ radioactive waste.’
But the Malaysian Government ‘ is satisfied there will be no radioactive residue produced during the plant’s operation, we have ordered Lynas to guarantee and plan the provision of a permanent waste disposal facility far from human population as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency’.
Why did the IAEA want the waste far away if it isn’t radioactive?
It would seem to me that if rare earths are so necessary for renewable energy, some way should be found to process them. But, unfortunately, rare earths have a sordid history of mismanagement and radioactive pollution in China and Malaysia. Meanwhile Lynas Corporation is simply behaving the way mining corporations have to – their focus is narrowly on profit, just like all the other Ugly Australian mining corporations abroad.
Also unfortunately, the nuclear lobby is watching the Lynas radioactive wastes saga, – as a prelude to nuclear power taking off in South East Asia.
And how long can Australia get away with exporting minerals with complete disregard of the environmental consequences abroad?
State of play – nuclear news to March 6th
New South Wales. ANSTO quietly pushing for nuclear power in NSW. Govt is going to dump the Hunter’s Hill radioactive waste at Kemps Creek, despite their pre-election promise against this. Dear oh dear! We thought that Warren Mundine would be a bad (pro nuclear) choice for new Senator. But – equally bad, probably worse, the very prominent and prestigious Bob Carr (?best mate of Tony Abbott) is the new Senator. Carr has a record of opposing Aboriginal protest rights, as well as promoting nuclear power, and uranium mining for New South Wales
Uranium to India. Kim Beazley, Australia’s ambassador to USA, explains that Australia will sell uranium to India, even if it does go to nuclear weapons. You see, it’s important not to offend the Indians’ sensibilities by insisting on little fussy regulations like the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.
Lynas rare earths company is under fire in Australia, with the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia (ANAWA)’s motion to the EPA , questioning health and safety approvals for its Mt Weld mine. Malaysian govt directs Lynas to relocate its radioactive waste facility. A court hearing of Gebeng residents’ case against Lynas to be heard on March 20. Calls for independent monitoring of its radioactive wastes. Hackers break into Lynas’ website.
Astroturfing. Independent Australia’s Sandi Keane blows the whistle on the ‘community’ anti wind power groups in Victoria
Australia: nuclear news wrap up for the week
Radioactive waste Still the most important news – still the one not covered by the media – the Senate now ganging up to shut up Scott Ludlam -lone voice against the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – it was tabled for discussion in cynical timing – as the nation watched the Gillard-Rudd soap opera.
Federal politics Rumour has it that Gillard will punish the pro Rudd politicians. What a good idea it would be – to sack Martin Ferguson from the Ministry! Meanwhile the new vacancy in the Senate could result in the arrival of a Pro Nuclear Aborigine, Warren Mundine
Uranium industry South Australia As the anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster approaches, the uranium lobby bravely touts its economic future, in the face of ever downward share price trend. The South Australian Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis puts a bold face on it – praises the uranium industry, but declaring the nuclear industry “uneconomic”.
And – we silly public – we thought that South Australia saved Arkaroola Wilderness from uranium mining, because they cared about the environment! Not a bit of it. Koutsantonis explains that it was because the government didn’t want young anti uranium protestors disrupting uranium mining conferences.
Arkaroola’s protection from uranium mining passed into law, – even if it was done for the wrong reasons by the South Australian government
Lynas Australian rare earths company The world, especially South East Asia watches, as the first entry of things nuclear is attempted by the Australian rare earths company, Lynas. If Lynas can get its project going, with no plan for disposing of the radioactive wastes, well, nuclear companies will be ready to follow suit. But Lynas is not the only Ugly Australian company abroad. Paladin uranium’s bad record in Africa is just one amongst the sad reality of white Western miners exploiting African people and environment.
Greens call for uranium to be included in the mineral resources rent tax (MRRT). Renewable energy ups and downs. In Victoria, Baillieu government is unconcerned, as its anti wind farm policy drives investment away.
As Radioactive Waste Bill progresses, pro nuclear Warren Mundine is worst choice for Senator
Australians who care about country generally look up to Aboriginals – so many of them fight the good fight for the environment. Communally, as tribe members they have worked to preserve their land and water. Individually, there are heroes – Laurie Baymarrwangga, Dianne Stokes, Kevin Buzzacott, Peter Watts, Jeffrey Lee, Michael Anderson, …
But, Aboriginals, at the end of it all, are only people. And some, such as Warren Mundine, are not among those heroes, but have, regrettably, become so white-ised that they could fit comfortably in Michael Moore’s book – Stupid White Males.
Warren Mundine fits comfortably into the corporate white push to quarry – ise Australia, in his position as a Director of the Australian Uranium Institute.
The Australian Senate is now about to rubber stamp the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill – which will impose a high level nuclear waste dump on Aboriginal land.
For Australians who care about country – Warren Mundine is the last person who should become a Senator.
Labor anger over Warren Mundine Senate push BY: BEN PACKHAM The Australian February 29, 2012 “…..There would be a “Melbourne Cup field” contesting the seat, The Australian Online was told today, and Mr Mundine’s succession of media interviews in recent days had not helped his prospects.
“Warren going to the media was the dumbest thing he could have done,” a party source said.
The possible candidacy of Mr Mundine, a former ALP national president, has been welcomed by fellow Aboriginal leaders, who say he could lift Labor’s indigenous policy credentials. Mr Mundine has promised an announcement on his candidacy today.
He told The Australian he would be a “team player” if selected for the post. Mr Mundine is still considered a frontrunner for the Senate vacancy, along with with Lowy Institute program director Michael Fullilove.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/labor-anger-over-warren-mundine-senate-push/story-fn59niix-1226284854206
Why is Australian media not covering the Radioactive Waste debate in the Senate?
Yesterday the Australian Senate debated the National Radioactive Waste Bill – the transcript of this goes for 
20 pages. http://wopared.parl.net/hansard/senate/latesthansard/shansard.pdf I understand that the debate is continuing today.
Wading through those 20 pages, I can find only the intrepid Senator Scott Ludlam asking the questions that all Australians should want to know, about this.
I must conclude that there is a cynical nexus of complacent agreement between Australia’s media, corporations, Liberal and Labor Parties – in the interests of the nuclear industry – to just keep it all quiet. So the Senate, Lib-Lab creature of the corporations, can just pass this momentous and unjust Bill to open up Aboriginal land to nuclear waste.
Perhaps, further down the track, it will be easy for the greedy people who want a nuclear waste import business to follow through on this. While we, the Australian public, remain ignorant of this threat to Australia’s future .
Is Warren Mundine, Director of Australian Uranium Association to join Australian Government Ministry ?
In the Gillard reshuffle of Ministers, it is regrettable that nuclear puppet Martin Ferguson will retain his position.
Removal of Minister Martin Ferguson would be a silver lining from Australia’s Labor government crisis
Martin Ferguson, Australia’s Minister for Resources and Energy, has apparently not one good word to say for his Prime Minister Julia Gillard, as he supports Kevin Rudd’s move against her.
When Gillard wins the Labor Caucus vote today, she should remove Ferguson from the Ministry.
- Should Rudd become Prim Minister, Martin Ferguson would encourage him to remove the c,limate change initiative of the carbon tax, in favour of a weak and ineffectual emissions trading policy, with a ludicrous carbon price of $5 per ton.
- As Minister for Resources and Energy, Ferguson has relentlessly opposed Labor policy, as he pushed for the nuclear industry
- Ferguson has equally relentlessly sabotaged renewable energy at every possible turn – while maintaining a veneer of supporting it.
- In Ferguson’s slavish obedience to the nuclear lobby, he has ignored and downgraded the appeal pf Aboriginal traditional owners to stop nuclear waste dumping on their land. Even while their legal case is in progress, Ferguson has pushed on with this project. It would be the first step in opening up Australia as the world’s nuclear waste dump – of course, on Aboriginal land.
You do wonder what motivates this man, in his fealty to the nuclear lobby? Can it really be that his motive is solely jobs jobs, (except for jobs in renewable energy) – jobs, no matter how dirty, dangerous and unhealthy?
The week’s nuke news in Australia
The New South Wales government hypocritically allows “exploration” for uranium , but not mining. At the same time, its regulations on renewable energy are designed to prevent small scale wind energy from being able to develop.
Rare earths Australian rare earths company Lynas facing court in Malaysia over its inadequate radioactive waste plan, and strong public opposition.
Hifar nuclear reactor Greens Senator Ludlam continues to raise those inconvenient questions in Parliament – like where will they put Sydney’s dead Hifar nuclear reactor?
South Australia The Uranium State of South Australia shutting down all funding avenues for promoting renewable energy.
Cash for comment It’s revealed that Australian Climate change denialist Professor Bob Carter receives a “monthly payment” of $US1667 ($1550) from the USA Heartland Institute to “ publicly counter the alarmist [anthropogenic global warming] message”.
Uranium diseconomics Australian uranium company Paladin makes a huge loss, and a huge share price fall.
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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