Tony Abbott launches new attack on Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Tony Abbott blasts national broadcaster: ABC takes ‘everyone’s side but Australia’s’ Canberra Times, Judith Ireland, 29 Jan 14 Reporter Prime Minister Tony Abbott has berated ABC News, arguing that it is taking ”everyone’s side but Australia’s” and that journalists should give the navy the ”benefit of the doubt” when it comes to claims of wrongdoing.
In comments that also suggest the media should act as cheerleaders for the country, Mr Abbott ramped up his recent criticism of the ABC…….
Acting Labor leader Tanya Plibersek defended the ABC on Wednesday as a “longstanding part of Australia’s cultural fabric”.
“From emergency broadcasts in times of trouble to coverage of the events that shape our nation, the ABC is there, free for all Australians,” she said.
Ms Plibersek said that every government had been subjected to close scrutiny by the ABC since the broadcaster began, “and we should all welcome that”. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-blasts-national-broadcaster-abc-takes-everyones-side-but-australias-20140129-31lt8.html#ixzz2rozai1tE
Trans Pacific Partnership a global-scale corporate power grab
Last week, Wikileaks released a draft environment chapter of the TPP. Surprise: it is neither strong nor enforceable.
Stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/2249519/stop_the_transpacific_partnership.html 23rd January 2014 The TPP – Trans-Pacific Partnership – is far more than just a trade agreement. It is a global-scale corporate power grab – anti-people, anti-environment and anti-democratic. And it must be stopped, writes Chris Lang. The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a proposed international trade agreement, involving 12 countries and covering a range of topics including intellectual property, the environment and workers’ rights. The TPP has been negotiated in secret for almost four years. Continue reading
Australia’s largest solar plant – construction begins
Construction begins on Nyngan, Australia’s largest solar PV plant REneweconomy, By Sophie Vorrath on 28 January 2014 Construction of AGL Energy’s $300 million solar PV plant in central NSW is set to begin, with the head contractor, First Solar, going on-site on Tuesday.
The ARENA-backed Nyngan Solar Plant – with more than 1,350,000 PV modules expected to be installed on a 250 hectare site – will be the largest PV plant in Australia, and the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, once finished.
Construction is expected to take around 18 months to complete, with the 102MW plant slated to be fully operational by June 2015. Continue reading
Destruction of Renewable Energy Target would destroy 1000s of solar jobs
Thousands Of Australian Solar Jobs Threatened http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=4147 28 Jan 14 If those who wish to see Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) abolished get what they want, up to 6,750 solar PV jobs could be lost and foregone nationwide in less than 5 years.
The grim prediction comes from REC Agents Association (RAA) in a report due to be released on Wednesday.
“If the Renewable Energy Target is axed, 2,000 jobs could be lost straight away and thousands of new jobs would not be created”, said Fiona O’Hehir, Vice-President of RAA and CEO of Greenbank Environmental, who commissioned the analysis.
“Axing the RET is on the Government’s agenda and they need to understand this would have a diabolical impact on jobs, industry and the hundreds of thousands of Australians who want to put solar on their homes.”
The RAA report states the solar industry employed around 17,000 Australians in 4,300 small and medium sized businesses last year. Continue reading
Abbott appoints pro nuclear military man as Governor General
“…….Mr Abbott, who some speculated might want to make Mr Howard governor-general, declared some months ago he believed former military leaders and former judges made the best vice-regal appointments.
Sources say the Prime Minister chose a widely admired military man like General Cosgrove partly because he was keen to ensure next year’s 100-year anniversary of Anzac Day and Australia’s role in World War I was granted a strong vice-regal presence…” http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/governorgeneral-peter-cosgrove-a-rough-diamonds-time-to-shine-20140128-31jto.html#ixzz2rj0U1Zbd
Repost: Peter Cosgrove spruiks “clean” nuclear for BHP Billiton
Lack of Australian nuclear plant almost immoral: Peter Cosgrove Amanda O’Brien : The Australian * February 04, 2010 “…………….The former Australian of the Year said he anticipated there would be an outcry but there was no cleaner energy source than nuclear power.(!!)..………General Cosgrove pulled no punches in his speech to the breakfast at the University of Western Australia, which was hosted by major coal producer BHP Billiton.
Lack of Australian nuclear plant almost immoral: Peter Cosgrove | The Australian
Abbott’s Direct Action climate policy no help to small and medium businesses
Small and medium businesses locked out of ‘direct action’, Coalition warned http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/27/direct-action-risks-failure-if-the-ret-is-scrapped-coalition-warned Coalition’s emissions reduction fund is ‘unlikely to be able to be accessed by small to medium enterprises for building upgrades and energy efficiency’, according to Senate submission The Abbott government has been told its signature “direct action” climate policy could lock small business out of funding to improve energy efficiency, and create broader risks for the economy in terms of growth, technological innovation and job creation.
The Coalition has also been warned explicitly that the success or otherwise of direct action is “co-dependent” on what other policies and regulations remain in place – particularly the renewable energy target (RET) that the prime minister has signalled could be wound back, or scrapped altogether. Continue reading
Is ignorance bliss? The date for Australia Day should be changed
Most people just want a day to celebrate the place that they call home, to be part of a community, and to guide Australia into the future. I am one of these people, so why can’t we celebrate this on a day that includes all Australians? Surely there must be another historically significant date that can be trumped up to include every person in this country. But ignorance is bliss, right?
Australia Day is a time for mourning, not celebration, The Guardian 26 Jan 14 The refusal to celebrate Australia Day is part of an ongoing fight for the recognition of the abuse of Indigenous people’s rights. If we give up on protesting, we might soon no longer remember the past Nakkiah Lui
This is why, for us, Australia Day is a day of mourning. It is not a day to go over to my friends’ to sit in a blow up pool and get drunk, and it’s definitely not a day to wear red, white and blue while waving a flag with a Union Jack and a Southern Cross on it. Continue reading
Australia’s solar pioneers predict a world powered by solar energy
Australia Day honours for solar pioneers CHRISTOPHER DOYLE, ABC, 26 JAN 14 Two Australian scientists who have paved the way for solar thermal power plants worldwide have been honoured with Australia Day medals.
A WORLD POWERED BY solar energy is inevitable according to two distinguished scientists being honoured this Australia Day. Continue reading
For Aboriginals, Australia Day is Invasion Day
Australia Day: Why 26 January continues to divide Aussies Most Aussies celebrate 26 January in the sun, but the commemoration of white settlement angers others, The Week, UK, 24 JAN 2014 AUSTRALIA’S national day is celebrated each year on 26 January with the ignition of thousands of barbeques and the downing of millions of cold beers. But Australia Day – which marks the establishment of the first European settlement in 1788 – is regarded as a day of shame by some Australians. Here are five key questions about the event:……….
Why is Australia Day controversial? Some Australians – both indigenous and non-indigenous – refer to 26 January as “Invasion Day”. They argue that the brutal treatment of the Aborigines by white settlers and the legacy of disease and addiction they inflicted on Australia’s first people makes it impossible to celebrate the arrival of Europeans. The issue continues to be a hot-button. This week Captain Cook’s historic home, rebuilt in Melbourne after being shipped from England, was sprayed with graffiti by activists in a protest against Australia Day. Phrases such as “26th Jan Australia’s shame” were daubed on to the two-story stone building, known as Cook’s Cottage, Sky News reports.
Will the day ever unite Australia? That seems unlikely. Despite efforts to reconcile white and indigenous Australians, Australia Day continues to be a reminder of oppression to some. “To many Aboriginal people there is little to celebrate and it 
is a commemoration of a deep loss,” says the Creative Spirits website. “Loss of their sovereign rights to their land, loss of family, loss of the right to practice their culture.”http://www.theweek.co.uk/asia-pacific/57035/australia-day-why-26-january-continues-divide-aussies
New South Wales’ biggest wind farm on the way
Foundations poured for NSW biggest renewable energy projecthttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-24/wind-project/5216572 Fri 24 Jan 2014 Foundations have begun to be laid at the Monaro site in the New South Wales south east of what will become the State’s biggest wind farm project. Continue reading
Solar panels soon stand alone says Australia’s biggest power company
Power company says solar panels can soon stand alone ANNABEL HEPWORTH THE AUSTRALIAN JANUARY 25, 2014 AUSTRALIA’S largest energy retailer is predicting that solar rooftop electricity panels will be competitive without subsidies in the next few years, adding to pressure on the federal Coalition to scale back the renewable energy target in this year’s review of the scheme.
The Weekend Australian can reveal that ahead of the RET review this year, Origin Energy — which has 4.3 million customers — thinks photovoltaic panels will be able to compete without subsidy in the next few years and wants this conclusion investigated as part of the review…..(subscribers only) http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/power-company-says-solar-panels-can-soon-stand-alone/story-e6frg6xf-1226810029021#
Dual function drones – climate study and spying – for Australia
Ex-military spy drone to conduct NASA climate tests in Australian skies
US space agency NASA is preparing to launch drone missions high in Australian skies during the next six weeks…..,the Northrop-Grumman Global Hawk, costing a hefty $US200 million each when fitted out with sophisticated eavesdropping equipment, is designed to circle the globe on secret military Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions…..
While Global Hawk is now proving useful in the civil world, the UAV’s primary function is as a highly effective global electronic intelligence gathering platform……Australia is a member of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence club that also includes the US, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-23/us-drone-over-australia/5215598
Solar energy brings profits to Cairns
Sun powers hot returns as Cairns takes a shine to solar power for profitable asset CAIRNS is reaping the benefits of tropical sunshine, with annual returns on investment in local solar power more than twice those of most other assets.http://www.cairnspost.com.au/lifestyle/sun-powers-hot-returns-as-cairns-takes-a-shine-to-solar-power-for-profitable-asset/story-fnjpuwet-1226808318516 24 Jan 14
The city has been revealed as one of the top performers in Australia for giving the best return on solar investment when compared with shares, property, gold, global fixed interest and fine art.
National solar provider Energy Matters recently used consumer feedback to rank each town for solar viability.
Cairns came in fifth on the national list, with a 20.1 per cent investment return per year for almost a quarter (23 per cent) of solar-eligible homes that had invested in the power source as of last March.
Townsville ranked the country’s top solar town with a 21.8 per cent annual return on investment, closely followed by Gladstone (21 per cent), and Brisbane and Mackay (both 20.2 per cent).
The figures took into account each city’s sunshine hours, the cost of a solar system for that region, local electricity rates and the region’s level of government support.
According to the report, returns from solar lie well ahead of the average returns for Australian shares (9.8 per cent), residential investment property (9.5 per cent), global fixed interest (8.5 per cent), fine art investment (8 per cent) and gold (4.1 per cent).
“Australians are constantly looking for the best place to invest their money, yet they’re overlooking one of the best, and it’s right above their head,” said Energy Matters co-founder Nick Brass.
He pointed to the initial outlay costs and consumer confusion around available government support for preventing more people seeking out solar.
Wade Allen, managing director ofNaked Energy, said Cairns’ solar consumers were still on the rise, despite a dip in numbers after July 1 last year when the solar grid feed-in tariff dropped from 44 to 8.
“It’s no longer a ‘plug and play’ situation,” he said. “We’re sizing solar systems perfectly for what people can use … and that’s how we’re able to help them achieve a good return.”
Will Abbott carry his war on renewables to attack rooftop solar power
Abbott urged to cut rooftop solar in national renewables revamp http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/abbott-may-cut-rooftop-solar-national-renewables-revamp-83883 By Giles Parkinson on 23 January 2014 The Australian rooftop solar PV industry may have to prepare for a future with no federal government incentives. There is growing speculation that the small scale renewable certificate may be cut in a revamp of the national renewable energy target.
RenewEconomy understands that there is a renewed push by utilities and generators – particularly but not exclusively the state-owned ones – to close the small scale renewable energy scheme (SRES) and cease issuing renewable energy certificates for rooftop solar. Others suggest cutting the price cap on the certificates.
The renewable energy target is already under threat from utilities and generators, state governments, and sympathizers within the Abbott ministry to either remove, or severely dilute, the 20 per cent target. Continue reading
1 This month
17 October, Free Public Talk on Nuclear Issues in South Australia
David Noonan will speak on public interest concerns over the new Roxby Downs Indenture Act 2026 on BHP copper-uranium mining and ore processing in SA, and on how AUKUS may face SA with a High-Level nuclear waste agenda.
Dr Jim Green will discuss international developments in the field of nuclear power including ‘small modular reactors’ and Generation 4 ‘advanced’ nuclear reactor concepts.
Help Aunty Sue Protect Her Land and Sacred Sites From Destructive Rocket Testing.
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AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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