Yeelirrie, Western Australia Uranium project – the fight is just beginning
State and National environment organisations have reinforced their strong opposition to the planned Yeelirrie uranium mine following the release of Cameco’s Public Environment Review (PER).
Dave Sweeney, Nuclear Free Campaigner from the Australian Conservation Foundation said “Cameco have clearly stated that uranium projects are not feasible with the current uranium price. The release of the PER is about a paper approval, this project is a long way from a done deal.
“There is longstanding and ongoing opposition from many Aboriginal people and other stakeholders. Seeking to advance a project that is not viable and where the company has no short to medium term development plans is reckless and unreasonable.”
“The Walkatjurra Walkabout just weeks ago walked through Yeelirrie and heard very moving testimonies from local pastoralists and Aboriginal elders who are united in the opposition to the project.”
Mia Pepper from the Conservation Council of WA said “This is a ‘smash and grab’ that totally disregards the concerns of the community and does little to minimise environmental damage. Cameco plan to cut the life of the mine in half by doubling the impact area and the risk of dust compared with previous plans for the ore body.”
“Cameco having a shocking record overseas and face court in Canada and the US this year over tax avoidance charges.”
The company’s operations in Canada have been criticised by Canadian regulators who have said “When you put the pieces together, they build a story of really fundamental issues about the competence of the company.” Prof. Christopher Barnes, geologist and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission member, 2003.
Malcoolm Turnbull advised to make climate and energy policy central
*Climate Institute Media Release: New Turnbull government should make climate and energy policy central
15 September 2015. The Climate Institute today urged the new Turnbull government to make climate and energy policy central to its plan to modernise the economy.
“All parties and all leaders who say they are serious about climate change need a plan for the modernisation and decarbonisation of our economy,” said John Connor, CEO of The Climate Institute.
(Check out the Climate Institute’s other news and latest work at: http://www.climateinstitute.org.au/)
Peter Christoff: If he wants to win an election, Turnbull should go back to his old self on climate
September 18, 2015. In backing Abbott’s existing climate policy, Malcolm Turnbull looks like appeasing his party. But his prospects would be better served by appealing to voters who are anxious for strong climate action.
https://theconversation.com/if-he-wants-to-win-an-election-turnbull-should-go-back-to-his-old-self-on-climate-47703
Australian govt ‘sees no value’ in humanitarian pledge on nuclear disarmament
“Support for the humanitarian consequences pledge is making Australia’s position more difficult; it is galvanising public and political opinion, and Australia finds itself running against the domestic and international tide.”
Australia defends opposition to global push for nuclear weapons ban, Guardian, Ben Doherty, 18 Sept 15 Foreign affairs department ‘sees no value’ in a pledge, endorsed by 116 countries to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide. Australia has defended its position on nuclear disarmament, saying a push for a global treaty banning nuclear weapons “will not lead to their elimination”.
The pledge, now endorsed by 116 countries, is seen as a precursor to a new global treaty outlawing all nuclear weapons.
But a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) told Guardian Australia it “sees no value” in the Austrian pledge because it ignores the realpolitik of the global nuclear landscape.
None of the five “declared” nuclear nations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty – the US, Britain, France, China and Russia – have endorsed the Austrian pledge. Continue reading
Will Malcolm Turnbull’s love for business mean a good future for renewable energy investment?
Furthermore, Malcolm Turnbull is a businessman — a successful one at that — and he will focus on ensuring Australia has a strong economy, business policy, and more besides.
This could mean that renewable energy will once again be seen as a favourable investment opportunity in Australia, if Malcolm Turnbull is to turn his love for business on to the renewable energy industry.
However, as has been outlined by website They Vote For You, Malcolm Turnbull’s voting record on renewable energy has not been very impressive, so at the end of the day, Australia may have a new Prime Minister come Tuesday morning, but the country’s renewable energy industry may remain as stagnant as it was with Tony Abbott at the helm.
What Will A New Prime Minister Mean For Australia’s Renewable Energy Industry?, Clean Technica September 14th, 2015 by Joshua S Hill Australia’s Liberal Party has elected a new leader, Malcolm Turnbull, which will soon mean a new Prime Minister for Australia — a move which has every chance to have a positive impact on the country’s renewable energy industry which has suffered heavily under the now-previous Prime Minister, Tony Abbott………..
I have not been quiet in my distaste for Tony Abbott, who I believe has run a campaign of anti-science and pro-fossil fuel. Continue reading
Aboriginal Australians may soon lose ancestral homelands
Indigenous Australians may soon lose ancestral land, Aljazeera Facing the biggest threat to their way of life in decades, indigenous communities may be forced off their homelands. | 10 Sep 2015 Western Australia, Australia – The arid, rural territory of Western Australia is home to over 270 remote indigenous Australian communities that live on their ancestral land. This land has sustained the oldest living culture for over 50,000 years and carries deep spiritual and cultural significance for the people living there today.
Yet many of these communities are now under threat. They may soon be shut down by the state government, and hundreds of Aborigines could be forced to leave terrain they consider sacred and which is integral to their way of life. Continue reading
Australia’s Solar Citizens waiting for Turnbull’s answers on renewable energy
Prime Minister Turnbull – Where To Now For Australian Solar?http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/malcolm-turnbull-solar-em5066/ September 15, 2015 After the toppling of Tony Abbott, the mood among solar supporters this morning with regard to Prime Minister-designate Malcolm Turnbull could be described generally as one of cautious optimism. Very, very cautious.
“Yesterday Mr Turnbull announced to the nation that he wanted to be the type of leader who ‘explains the challenges and how to seize the opportunities’, a leader who ‘respects the people’s intelligence’,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director of Solar Citizens.
“We’re glad to hear it. Here on the sunniest continent on earth, the majority of Australians want to see more solar and renewables, not less. The Australian people want to harness our plentiful solar resources to power our economy, create jobs, cut electricity bills and leave a better world for our children.”
With a new leader of the country about to take the reins, Solar Citizens says it’s a fresh opportunity to secure Federal government support for Australia’s solar powered future. The group is urging supporters to email soon-to-be Prime Minister Turnbull, asking him ‘Stand Up For Solar’; including a goal of at least 50% renewable energy by 2030.
The Australian Solar Council is urgently seeking a meeting with Malcolm Turnbull to determine where the new government will stand on policy relating to solar power.
“The Australian Solar Council welcomes Prime Minister Turnbull’s commitment to a strong, modern economy. Solar delivers jobs and has built thousands of small and medium sized businesses right around the country,” said CEO John Grimes.
“The key question is this – will a Turnbull Government implement a strong positive solar policy?”
The Clean Energy Council says while there is still much uncertainty, there is cause for hope.
“It is no secret that our industry had a tough time under Prime Minister Tony Abbott. But Malcolm Turnbull has a much better track record when it comes to renewable energy,” said the CEC’s Chief Executive, Kane Thornton.
RenewEconomy’s Giles Parkinson says instant miracles shouldn’t be expected on climate change and renewable energy.
“Not a lot of change in the immediate term, one suspects, but a complete change in atmospherics, and of perspective, particularly in the lead up to Paris.”
Government committe finds that it is too dangerous to sell uranium to India
Too dangerous to sell India uranium, Dave Sweeney, AFR, Our Parliament has provided a welcome circuit breaker to a very dangerous government proposal. After examining the controversial plan to sell Australian uranium to India, the influential Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has found that unresolved safety, security, legal and nuclear weapons issues need to be addressed before any uranium is sold or supplied to India……….. : http://www.afr.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/too-dangerous-to-see-india-uranium-20150910-gjj7is#ixzz3lqFw3irM
Companies looking for renewable energy investments in Australia
Swiss, Canadian capital search for renewable energy investments, SMH September 13, 2015 Carrie LaFrenz Reporter Swiss private investment firm Partners Group AG and one of Canada’s largest pension funds, OPSEU Pension Trust , are eyeing further investments in renewable energy projects in Australia citing a stable investment climate and bipartisan support for the renewable energy target.
Partners Group – which was started by three former Goldman Sachs bankers in 1996 and has been operating in Australia for seven years with a fairly low profile – would like to complete one to two local deals a year, deploying up to $300 million a year. The company has €1 billion of dry powder that it can access for direct infrastructure investments globally.
“While we stay away from [large privatisations]… we still believe there are very attractive opportunities in infrastructure in Australia,” said Benjamin Haan, Partners head of private infrastructure Asia-Pacific.
Partners Group, which manages €42 billion ($70 billion) of assets, and Canada’s OPSEU Pension Trust (OPTrust), were part of a global consortium that recently won the right to build and operate a $450 million wind farm in Ararat, Victoria, the third-biggest in Australia. This was the first local renewables deal for the pair, following more than a year of uncertainty regarding the renewable energy target. Federal Parliament agreed in June to a new target of 33,000 gigawatt hours (Gwh) of production by 2020.
Malcolm Turnbull might move slowly and subtly on climate change
Any changes to the Coalition’s climate change policy under Malcolm Turnbull are likely to be slow and subtle, SMH September 15, 2015 Tom Arup Environment editor, The Age Those hoping that Malcolm Turnbull’s sudden rise to the prime ministership will usher in an immediate and radical overhaul of Australia’s climate change position should take a deep breath.
Renewables trump Nuclear Power- (unpublished letter to The Advertiser)
Pacific leaders incensed at Abbott and Dutton laughing about sea level rise
Pacific leaders respond to Australian minister’s sea level remarks, Guardian, Karl Mathiesen, 12 Sept 15 Tony de Brum, Marshall Islands foreign minister, joins others in expressing offence at comments by Peter Dutton, caught on microphone in Canberra. Pacific leaders have hit out at the insensitivity of an Australian minister’s apparent joke at the expense of low-lying nations struggling against rising sea levels.
Immigration minister, Peter Dutton, was caught on a microphone chatting with Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, and social services minister, Scott Morrison, while waiting for a community roundtable to begin on Friday in Canberra……..Marshall Islands foreign minister, Tony de Brum, who has been a high profile advocate for stronger action on climate change in the UN climate process, expressed his offence on Twitter:….
Anote Tong, the president of Kiribati, described the joke as vulgar. “What kind of a person is he?” he asked the ABC. “As long as there is this kind of attitude, this kind of arrogance in any position of leadership, we will continue to have a lot of tension.”
Gary Juffa, the governer of the Papua New Guinea province of Ono, focused on the Australian prime minister’s reaction:……
The furore broke out just hours after the Australian prime minister rejected a pleafrom Pacific countries to ramp up its carbon reduction targets, which observers called “pathetically inadequate” when they were released in August.
Earlier, Tong told the ABC that Australia’s refusal to consider scaling up its ambitions was disappointing…….. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/sep/11/pacific-leaders-australian-minister-sea-levels-tony-de-brum-marshall-islands?CMP=share_btn_tw
Selling uranium to India would provide few jobs in Australia
The other story was that a jobs bonanza awaited us in selling uranium to India, creating “thousands” of jobs. You had to go to Fairfax and News Corp for that one.
True, the report refers to potential growth of 3800 jobs in the uranium mining industry. But that number is sourced from the Minerals Council of Australia (next campaign: uranium is amazing!). And it’s garbage. The Minerals Council claims there are currently 4200 people employed in uranium mining in Australia. In fact, the number is less than a thousand, according to an independent market research report: just 987 Australians mine uranium.
What the report also ignores is that nuclear power is nothing like the growth industry hucksters would have us believe. There are fewer nuclear power stations under construction now than five years ago; the great bulk of them are delayed (mammoth delays and budget blowouts are standard for nuclear power construction)
There’s no jobs bonanza to be had from flogging uranium to India, BERNARD KEANE
Crikey politics editor There were two stories from yesterday’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties report on the Australia-India Nuclear Co-operation Agreement, designed to established a framework in which Australia could sell uranium to India, which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The correct story, which both the ABC and AAP reported, was that the committee report places a number of significant obstacles in the way of of uranium sales to India, recommending that sales only commence once five conditions have been met. They are: Continue reading
Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott share a joke about rising sea levels in Pacific nations
Peter Dutton jokes with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels in Pacific nations, Guardian, Shalailah Medhora, 11 Sept 15, Immigration minister shares awkward open mic moment with PM after Pacific islands fail to convince Australia to aim for a global warming target of 1.5 degrees The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has shared an awkward open mic moment with the prime minister, Tony Abbott, where he appears to joke about rising sea levels in the Pacific.
Abbott and Dutton were discussing the recent Pacific Islands Forum in Papua New Guinea before a community roundtable at parliament house in Canberra on the resettlement of Syrian refugees. Television cameras had been invited to cover the opening statements of the roundtable……..
[Dutton] “Time doesn’t mean anything when you’re, you know, about to have water lapping at your door.”
The social services minister, Scott Morrison, who was also in attendance, then pointed out that there was a boom mic – an extendable microphone used to capture sound at a distance – above the ministers.
Pacific leaders voice frustration over Australia’s position on climate change.
Duttonrefused to be drawn on the nature of the conversation, when asked about it at a later press conference….http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/sep/11/peter-dutton-jokes-with-tony-abbott-about-rising-sea-levels-in-pacific-nations
Brief news on solar energy and on climate change
Why solar energy is poised for yet another record year.
The growth boom is being fueled by a combination of declining costs, low interest rates, and a federal solar investment tax credit, a new report suggests.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/09/09/why-solar-energy-is-poised-for-yet-another-record-year/ & http://www.dailyclimate.org/t/3864796633753627934
Energy boss tips solar explosion
One of the sector’s most experienced leaders has predicted a major investment in ‘utility scale’ solar power.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/energy-boss-grant-king-tips-solar-explosion/story-e6frg6xf-1227520102456
Sophie Lewis: Sure, winter felt chilly, but Australia is setting new heat records at 12 times the rate of cold ones
Melbourne, Canberra and much of southern Australia have shivered through a cold winter. But on a longer view, record cold snaps are disappearing, while Australian heat records continue to be broken.
https://theconversation.com/sure-winter-felt-chilly-but-australia-is-setting-new-heat-records-at-12-times-the-rate-of-cold-ones-35607
Forest fires in Alaska: A ticking climate time bomb
As US President Barack Obama visits Alaska to focus attention on climate change, scientists warn that this very bad wildfire year is part of a vicious cycle caused by – and accelerating – climate change.
http://www.dw.com/en/forest-fires-in-alaska-a-ticking-climate-time-bomb/a-18684423
1 This month
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/2352741955560
15 April – Zoom –Nuclear Power is Not the Solution
Apr 15, 2026 01:00 AM in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) on Tuesday, April 14th for a timely webinar exploring the risks associated with nuclear power and challenging the myth that it offers a simple, safe, carbon-free solution to the climate crisis
21 April Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-04-21 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-04-21 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.
Host Contact Info: australia@icanw.org
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 