Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Legal proceedings begin on Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan

“Everyone knew that the wrong people gave permission to have that land destroyed by these government people who weren’t listening to the main Traditional Owners.

Traditional Owners angry at Muckaty decision, ABC Rural, Northern Territoary, By Caddie Brain, 25/02/2011 Mediation proceedings begin today in the court challenge over the nomination of Muckaty station as the proposed site for a nuclear waste dump.Traditional Owners have reaffirmed their opposition to the facility claiming that the government failed to consult all traditional owner groups. Continue reading

February 26, 2011 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal | Leave a comment

Judge rules for Aboriginal landowners against mining company

`The native title in the land of the traditional owners in preventing mining are significant and genuine,” he said…. ‘the Kokatha people’s genuine, longstanding and consistently voiced opposition to mining weighed against approval.’

SA judge’s blow to Straits, Argonaut | Perth Now, 17 Jan 2011, A SOUTH Australian court has denied Straits Resources and its joint venture partner Argonaut Resources the rights to explore a region around Lake Torrens. Continue reading

January 18, 2011 Posted by | aboriginal issues, legal, South Australia | | 1 Comment

Judge upheld rights of Lucas Heights anti nuclear activists

..Conscientious protestors and activists should not expect immunity from the laws they break….. But in some cases, society’s interest in seeing its laws challenged and broken is greater than its interest in seeing them enforced...the judge dismissed the charges without conviction..….In some cases, as the courts recognise, breaking the law is rightly not illegal.

Is breaking the law always illegal? | Greenpeace International, by Daniel Simons – January 11, 2011 Early in the morning of 17 December 2001, a group of intruders penetrated the area inside the perimeter fence surrounding the Lucas Heights nuclear plant, Australia’s only reactor. Continue reading

January 12, 2011 Posted by | legal, New South Wales | Leave a comment

Australian soldiers and Aborigines affected by nuclear test court case

About 200 Australian veterans, widows and children of veterans had planned their own class action against the British government. Aborigines affected were also closely watching the verdict.

The British veterans are deciding whether to appeal, while the Australians are now considering an action against the Australian government.

British ruling hits Diggers’ bid for bomb test damages, The Age, DAN OAKES, 24 Nov 10, AUSTRALIAN veterans’ hopes of compensation for exposure to nuclear testing in the 1950s hang by a thread after a British court decision. Continue reading

November 24, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium company ERA fined for radioactive pollution of workers

Twenty-eight workers had fallen ill with spontaneous vomiting, gastric upsets, headaches or skin rashes after drinking or showering in the water, which contained 400 times more uranium than recommended

When PR Goes Nuclear | Green Hybrid Cars , 29 Sept 10, Northern Territory based miner and producer of uranium oxide Energy Resources Of Australia Limited (ERA) were today fined $150,000 Continue reading

October 5, 2010 Posted by | legal, Northern Territory, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australian, New Zealand, UK, veterans were guinea pigs for nuclear radiation

In total, 25,000 forces members from the UK, Australia and New Zealand were stationed near the blast sites.

Their lawyers claim many were there simply as guinea pigs to gauge the impact of nuclear explosions on human health.

LibDem Armed Forces minister betrayed us by dropping U.S support, say atom-test veterans, Daily mail, By Ian Drury 11th September 2010 The Armed Forces minister was last night condemned as a hypocrite who has betrayed nuclear test veterans by dropping his support after getting into power. Continue reading

September 13, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal | , , , , | Leave a comment

Fear and loathing in the Four Mile uranium project companies

Alliance claimed it wanted to protect its interests but Quasar countered that the confidentiality of the meetings could be put at risk.

Uranium companies at odds on recording devices  ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Sep 1, 2010 A company involved in developing a uranium mine near Beverley in the far north-east of South Australia has lost an attempt to record confidential meetings. Continue reading

September 2, 2010 Posted by | legal, South Australia, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Centre for Geomechanics to “scrutinise” Western Australia’s uranium mining

The tender was awarded to the Australian Centre for Geomechanics,…The new group comes as several resources companies including BHP Billiton and Toro Energy are vying to develop the state’s first uranium mine, which could be as early as 2013.

Experts appointed to scrutinise WA uranium , Rebecca Laws, on  Perth Now , August 23, 2010 The State Government has appointed an independent group of experts to implement a regulatory framework for WA’s emerging uranium sector. Continue reading

August 26, 2010 Posted by | legal, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Julizan Burnside QC to lead Aboriginals’ legal action against nuclear waste dump

Lane Jangala has instructed Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Surry Partners and Julian Burnside QC, to commence proceedings against the use of the site for disposal of radioactive waste.

NT landowners appoint firm to nuclear waste legal action 27 July 2010 | by The New Lawyer “……The Traditional Owners have instructed law firm Maurice Blackburn and Surry Partners to commence a Federal Court challenge against the Federal Government and the Northern Land Council over the plan to build a nuclear waste dump on their land at Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek…… Continue reading

July 28, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Legal action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan

Traditional owners take nuke dump fight to court ,  ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 26 July 2010, A group of Indigenous landowners from the Northern Territory is taking Federal Court action in Melbourne against a proposed nuclear waste dump.The Federal Government wants to build the dump on land at Muckaty Station, north of Tennant Creek. But traditional owners say there has been a lack of community consultation. High-profile barrister Julian Burnside will represent the group in the case.Traditional owners take nuke dump fight to court – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

July 27, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In the crooked world of uranium mining deals

Alliance contends that Quasar “engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct” in contravention of Australian trading laws and that Heathgate “assisted or participated in the contraventions committed by Quasar.”……

Alliance takes Four Mile partner to court, World Nuclear News, 12 July 2010 Australia’s Alliance Resources has taken Quasar Resources and Heathgate Resources to court over their failure to disclose information related to the exploration of the Four Mile uranium project in South Australia. Continue reading

July 13, 2010 Posted by | legal, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Changes to Australia’s Law planned, to further uranium mining

sends a further public message about the likelihood of uranium mining being an increasing part of the mining landscape in Australia.

Changes to Commonwealth environmental approvals for uranium mining Australia, Lexology -July 6 2010 In brief:

  • The Federal Government released its response to Deloitte’s 2008 Review of Regulatory Efficiency in Uranium Mining in May 2010.
  • The response indicates there may be major changes to the environmental regulation of uranium mining in Australia. These may facilitate the approvals process for uranium mining. Continue reading

July 8, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

South Australian govt ordered to pay legal costs of anti uranium protestors

Anti-uranium protesters win legal costs from SA Government , ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 30 June 2010, A court has ordered the South Australian Government to pay the legal bills of nine people who were assaulted and unlawfully detained during an anti-uranium protest. Continue reading

June 30, 2010 Posted by | legal, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Share prices suffer as S.A. uranium companies wrangle

Quasar Resources challenges Alliance in court over Four Mile uranium project, Adelaide Now SARAH MARTIN

  • June 15, 2010 QUASAR Resources is accusing junior joint venture partner Alliance Resources of frustrating development of the Four Mile uranium mine in SA’s north. Continue reading

June 15, 2010 Posted by | legal, South Australia, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Leading Australian law firms take up case against Muckaty nuclear waste dump

Maurice Blackburn, Julian Burnside, charged with waste dump action  3 June 2010 | by The New Lawyer THE Commonwealth Government and the Northern Land Council will face a Federal Court legal challenge over plans for a radioactive waste dump in the Northern Territory.Maurice Blackburn Lawyers is working with NSW law firm Surry Partners, and Julian Burnside QC, to commence proceedings challenging the nomination of the Indigenous land, at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek. Continue reading

June 7, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment