Tony Abbott’s plan to slash climate action, remove carbon tax
Libs to take axe to climate agencies BY: SID MAHER The Australian June 25, THE 
opposition has unveiled plans to scrap at least five major climate change agencies and dozens of programs as part of its removal of the carbon tax if Tony Abbott wins the next election.
Coalition climate action spokesman Greg Hunt labelled Labor’s climate change package, which begins from July 1, a “spaghetti soup”, and produced a map showing 11 departments overseeing at least 36 programs…..
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/libs-to-take-axe-to-climate-agencies/story-e6frg6xf-1226407087085 subscription only
Carbon tax: companies will act to save money by polluting less
Tax a chance to lead on pollution Matt Johnston : Herald Sun June 25, A TAX on the carbon dioxide that big businesses pump into the atmosphere is designed to clean up Australia’s environment.
The $23-a-tonne “price tag” on pollution, which starts on July 1, is an incentive for companies to pollute less, because then they will pay less. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/tax-a-chance-to-lead-on-pollution/story-fn7x8me2-1226406976029 – subscription only
Aboriginal Kevin Buzzacott keeps up the good fight to stop huge Olympic Dam uranium mine
Geoffrey Kennett SC argued it was not sufficient for Mr Burke to have just considered the impact of taking water from the basin. He said the minister had to have proper regard to the conditions already imposed on water extraction by the state government.
Elder fights on to stop SA mine expansion 9 News, Jun 21 2012, Tim Dornin An Aboriginal elder, Kevin Buzzacott, has returned to the Federal Court to tell “a good story” in his bid to block the $30 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam copper, uranium and gold mine in South Australia’s north. Continue reading
Solar panels the key to reducing electricity costs
Easing the pain: renewable energy a powerful solution, Origin Manly Daily, 20 JUN 12 RENEWABLE energy can ease the pain of rising electricity prices and the technology exists to power most of Australia, experts say.
Clean Energy for Eternity spokesman Warren Yates said households wanting to reduce power bills – predicted to rise by another 18 per cent in the next 12 months – should look at installing solar panels. Continue reading
More uncertainty over the future of BHP’s big new uranium mine plan
Global woes a worry for Olympic Dam, 9 News, 18 June 12, Global economic uncertainty is casting more doubt over the expansion of South Australia’s Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine, Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond says…….”Given world economic circumstances, I think there is a much bigger question mark over it now than there was perhaps when the indenture was ratified by the parliament at the end of last year.”
Under the terms of the indenture, mining giant BHP Billiton has until the end of this year to give the $30 billion expansion final approval.
Scrap Baillieu govt’s anti wind farm laws, says Greens candidate for Victorian by-election
Greens candidate backs renewable energy http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-14/greens-candidate-backs-renewable-energy/4070962?section=vic June 14, 2012 The Greens candidate for the seat of Melbourne says she wants to power the city with renewable energy. Cathy Oke is one of at least five candidates running in the by-election triggered by the resignation of Labor MP Bronwyn Pike.
It will be held on July 21. Ms Oke says she wants to treble investment in energy efficiency programs and renewable energy.
She also wants a fund to enable community groups to establish local solar farms. “We want the ability for communities, organisations, residential apartment buildings to be able to invest in solar and make money out of it but also enable us to reduce our reliance on coal,” she said.
“We want out city and our state to be powered by renewable energy.” Ms Oke also wants to scrap the Baillieu Government’s wind farm laws which she says have halted investment in wind farms. “We don’t support that and we would look at changing that,” she said.
First solar shares jump with news of large solar projects
First Solar Shares up over 21% : Investor Guide , June 13th, 2012 Shares of First Solar Inc. the world’s number two provider of solar cells, rose +2.62 per share, or +21.25 percent on Tuesday, after the company announced plans to ramp up its production at its plant in Germany, which was slated for closure in October of this year.
Furthermore, First Solar disclosed late Monday that it had signed contracts for the construction of two large utility
projects for Australian energy provider AGL Energy….. Furthermore, First Solar announced late Monday that it was selected to design, construct and maintain two utility scale solar photovoltaic power projects which would total 159 megawatts for Australian energy company, AGL Energy Limited. The project is part of Australia’s Solar Flagships Program, a government project providing state and federal funding for Australia’s commitment to investment in renewable energy
generation…. http://www.investorguide.com/article/10624/first-solar-shares-up-over-21/
Minister’s fact-free resuscitation bid can’t save nuclear industry
June 13th, 2012 Labor’s nuclear cheerleader Martin Ferguson put on a rose-coloured blindfold before 
delivering his rote speech at the uranium conference in Adelaide today.
Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the Minister’s enthusiasm for nuclear power flies in the face of the grim reality.
“On Monday we had the news Europe will decommission most of its nuclear power stations by 2030 – almost 150 nuclear power stations will be gone from Europe – and 48 hours later we have Federal Minister Martin Ferguson trying to pump life back into the industry.
“In the wake of the Fukushima disaster several European countries decided to completely phase out their nuclear sectors. Germany and Belgium aim to end production by 2030 and Switzerland by 2034. Canada will close 17 nuclear stations by 2030, and the US will close at least five. Yet the Minister relies on figures provided by self-interested industry groups to claim growth is just around the corner.
“In India – a country that has refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – there is a mass movement against nuclear power that is growing in size and momentum. In China we know next to nothing about the safety record of nuclear technology, but we do know the Government is undertaking the world’s biggest investment in expanding renewable energy.
“BHP is backing away from its plans to expand Olympic Dam. The Minister held up the proposed Wiluna uranium mine in WA as a sign of good times to come: that troubled project, run by an outfit that has never operated a mine, is being opposed on all fronts. Even the market has turned its back, with TOE stocks trading close to a four-year low.
Australian uranium to Russia
First_shipment_of_Australian_enriched_uranium_to_be_delivered_to_Russia, Steel Guru, 12 June 2012, Itar Tass reported that the first shipment of Australian natural uranium will be delivered to Russia for enrichment this year. It was announced after Technosnabexport belonging to the ROSATOM State Nuclear Energy Corporation and Australia’s Rio Tinto Company signed an agreement within the framework of the ATOMEXPO 2012 forum.
Australia’s ERA Company, incorporated in the Ria Tinto Group will be the contractor from the Australian side.
According to Rosatom, the first delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of 2012 via the maritime sea port of St Petersburg. Australian natural uranium will be processed at the Siberian Chemical Works owned by the TVEL fuel company in Seversk. After that, Technosnabexport will supply the low enriched uranium to one of the foreign companies.
The ATOMEXPORT 2012 international forum opened in Moscow last Monday. It drew together over 1,300 experts from 53 countries. In recent years, the forum has turned into a world’s leading platform for discussion of nuclear energy themes. The state of atomic industry two years after the Fukushima accident was the key topic this year.
Caution advised on CT scans for chidren due to cancer risk
X-rays triple cancer risk: study 9 News, Jun 7 2012 By Michelle Henderson, AAP National Medical Writer The risk of children developing leukaemia and brain cancer later in life is tripled if they have multiple CT scans, an international study has found.
But Australian experts say the risk from ionising radiation is already well-documented and the recent study emphasises the importance of minimising patient exposure to computer tomography (CT) scans. Continue reading
Australian women at the forefront of economic change for sustainability
Positive need for a nurturing role, SMH by Cosima Marriner June 3, 2012 ROMILLY MADEW believes consumers can change the way they behave to preserve the planet – and save money at the same time. She is representative of a coterie of women who are taking leadership positions in the sustainability field. They do not identify as tree huggers, but as change agents. Continue reading
Australia Renewable Energy Fund Set to Invest in Solar, Biofuels, Bloomberg News By James Paton May 29, 2012 Australia’s A$200 million ($196 million) renewable energy venture capital fund is set to unveil its
first two investments in the solar and biofuels industries by the end of September. Continue reading
Toro Energy’s uranium mining plans under attack
Locals, NGOs take aim at uranium hopeful, SMH, May 28, 2012, Toro Energy has rejected claims it did not consult widely enough about its planned uranium mine in Western Australia, but concedes it has sponsored a scientist who argues low level radiation is beneficial to health…
… On Monday, Wiluna local and indigenous elder Glen Cooke said he was critical of the community consultation process undertaken by Toro and now sought consultation from the environment ministers. Mr Cooke said he was supported by other locals. “Marmion and Burke will be making a big decision that will affect our community, our dreaming and our health,” Mr Cooke said in a statemen issued by the WA Nuclear Free Alliance. Continue reading
BHP likley to drop plan for Yeelirrie uranium mine
BHP has in recent weeks backed away from a target set last year to invest roughly $80 billion over five years in its mining
BHP to decide on uranium deposit, THE AUSTRALIAN, ROBB M. STEWART, June 01, 2012 BHP Billiton, under pressure from state officials in Western Australia to sell the country’s second-largest undeveloped uranium deposit, said it intends to update investors on its plans for the Yeelirrie project later this year…..
Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett and another member of the state parliament have said that BHP should sell
Yeelirrie, which lies hundreds of kilometers northeast of Perth, if it does not intend to develop a mine there. Continue reading
South Australian government worried: Olympic Dam uranium expansion a non starter?
Premier queries BHP Billiton’s concerns over Olympic Dam decision by: MICHAEL OWEN . THe Australian May 25, 2012
SOUTH Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has claimed “artificial” reasons are being used by BHP Billiton to consider delaying a decision on its $20 billion Olympic Dam mine expansion in the state’s far north.
Securing approval by the BHP board for the mega-mineral project is crucial for the credibility of the Labor government…. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/premier-queries-bhp-billitons-concerns-over-olympic-dam-decision/story-e6frgczx-1226366173220
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/235274195556
20 May – Webinar – The dangerous world of AUKUS, US, military occupation and suppression of dissent
National Webinar, 20th May, 2026, 6.30pm AEST. Confronting laws restricting/suppressing protest speech and action
Speakers: Former Sen. Rex Patrick, Lawyer Nick Hanna ,Arthur Rorris ,Jorgen Doyle, Sen David Shoebbridge,
Facilitator Kelley Tranter.
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 