Abbott commissions unnecessary research on wind energy and health
Abbott’s fear mongering on wind farms is dangerous and reckless: Greens http://richard-di-natale.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/abbott%E2%80%99s-fear-mongering-wind-farms-dangerous-and-reckless-greens 08 Jan 2014 | Richard Di Natale
“This is another cynical attack on renewable energy that will create more fear and anxiety in the community” said Senator Di Natale.
“After trying to dismantle the carbon price, axe the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and attacking the Renewable Energy Target, it’s no surprise that the anti-science Abbott Government has latched onto the discredited anti-wind campaign.
“It is the Prime Ministers actions, not the wind industry’s that will put people’s health at risk. His fear mongering is reckless, dangerous and irresponsible. The truth is that there has already been extensive research into this issue and no credible health body or medical journal in the world supports the idea of wind turbine syndrome.
“There is significant research to indicate that misinformation about wind farms can make people sick. Much like a placebo can lead to genuine health benefits, false claims that something is harmful can lead to real harms.
“By commissioning further unnecessary research, the Abbott Government is simply sending a signal that there could be something to worry about. Every dollar the NHMRC spends on politically-motivated research is a dollar not spent on cancer or diabetes research.
“If the Abbott Government is truly concerned with the health impacts of power generation, a Senate Inquiry found earlier this year that the mining, transportation and combustion of coal contributes to poor air quality which has a greater impact than the road toll. It’s time the Prime Minister got on with implementing those recommendations rather than pursuing his reckless and dangerous campaign against clean energy.”
“Direct Action” – Tony Abbott’s slush fund for polluting industries
“What is clear in the green paper is that there is no requirement for business to reduce carbon pollution,” Mr Burke said. “The policy offers no response for businesses that increase pollution.”
No penalty for carbon polluters GRAHAM LLOYD THE AUSTRALIAN, 7 JAN 14 COMPANIES will not be punished if they fail to meet their carbon emissions targets under the Coalition’s Direct Action plan.
Instead, the government will introduce “flexible compliance arrangements”, some of which are more generous than those argued for by industry.
Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt told The Australian yesterday the Direct Action scheme, outlined in a green paper now open for comment, was not designed to be punitive. Continue reading
Trans Pacific Partnership’s investor-state dispute settlement mechanism puts democracy in peril
Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement favours foreign investors over citizens’ rights Canberra Times, January 4, 2014 Without debate, increased rights for foreign investors will undermine our way of life, writes Thomas A. Faunce. All the indications from the recent Singapore meeting on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) are that Australian society is about to undergo a momentous shift in its governance arrangements. The recent Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) gives a pointer.
It includes an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism. This provides rights of foreign investors (additional to those of local businesses) to challenge our legislation where it impedes their profits overseas before panels of trade arbitrators. Our government claimed it had ”ensured the inclusion of appropriate carve-outs and safeguards in important areas such as public welfare, health and the environment.”
The Australian government has no mandate to introduce such a significant change in our sovereignty and governance. Though the present author and others raised the issue of such greater rights of foreign investors over local businesses during the preceding electoral campaign it was never the subject of major policy debate or positioning.
The insertion of such foreign investor rights into our governance system is a momentous event in the history of our democracy.According to the central document in our social contract, fundamental alterations in Australia’s governance arrangements require not just legislation but a referendum. Thus, a majority of Australian citizens in a majority of states were needed to support the creation of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or the citizenship of Aboriginal Australians.
Yet, as a result of the TPPA, this country risks displacing the authority of citizens who live and support families, friends, local communities and ecosystems in this land, in favour of a system privileging artificial people called corporations.
The multinational corporations to which the KAFTA and the TPPA will be ceding rights to challenge our democratic laws are regarded by the law as ”people”. They can sue in courts to protect their rights. But they lack conscience, empathy, the capacity to develop virtues though consistent application of generally applicable principle, that constitute the richness of our character. Corporations can never marry or have children. They seek to fulfil a monomanical basic craving – to maximise shareholder profit.
Perhaps the big issue in our nation should not be gay marriage, but corporate marriage – using the corporations law to link a broader public purpose.
It is ironic and sad that the privileging of corporate elites over the rights and interests of our citizens implicit in such foreign investor rights was rejected by conservative former prime minister John Howard at the time of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in 2004. It also has been deprecated by Pope Francis as part of his recent apostolic exhortation……
At the same time as foreign investors are gaining these extra rights, our government is preparing to turn more of our social infrastructure over to them. The new era for infrastructure financing involves projects financed by taxpayers and superannuants, that then are sold to private corporations who manage them…..
The deliberate disengagement of Australian citizens from the governance changes being wrought on Australia through the TPPA may mark a turning point in a wider disengagement of citizens from the political process in this country.
♦ Thomas A. Faunce is professor, jointly in the college of law and college of medicine, biology and the environment at the Australian National University. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/trans-pacific-partnership-agreement-favours-foreign-investors-over-citizens-rights-20140103-309nb.html#ixzz2peyYTVFd
Constitutional Preamble is irrelevant: Aborigines need a Treaty!
Forget the Preamble, what Australia needs is a Treaty Woollydays, Derek Barry January 3, 2014 The new Coalition Government has been making noises on a referendum to change the constitution to recognise First Australians. The wording of the change has yet to be announced but Prime Minister Tony Abbott is saying the change would “complete our constitution rather than change it.”
What exactly Abbott means by completion rather than change is not clear from the article but I assume it means the change will have purely ornamental rather than legal force. According to his deputy Julie Bishop, the government wants to have a “deep discussion” with the Australian people before agreeing to the wording but here’s a free tip from me if the changes are purely for show: Forget it.
I say forget it, not because Australian constitutional referendums have a habit of failing, but because there are genuine things constitutional change could do to improve the situation of First Australians. The most profound change would be to turn the preamble into a Treaty, common enough in other settler countries, but the first ever in 225 years of European occupation of Australia. Unlike a flowery but pointless preamble, a treaty would genuinely acknowledge past failures and injustices and show sincere desire for a better future and more just relationship……. Continue reading
Tony Abott’s climate denialist voice – Maurice Newman
“The worst part about Mr Newman’s ignorant comments is that he’s only voicing what we know Tony Abbott thinks about climate change,”
The CSIRO says robust scientific findings include clear evidence for global warming
Tony Abbott’s top business adviser accuses IPCC of ‘dishonesty and deceit’, The Guardian, 31 Dec 13 ‘The scientific delusion, the religion behind the climate crusade, is crumbling,’ Maurice Newman says Tony Abbott’s top business adviser has accused theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of “dishonesty and deceit” as it focuses on “exploiting the masses and extracting more money” in a climate crusade.
Maurice Newman, chairman of the prime minister’s new Business Advisory Council, used an interview with the Australian newspaperto launch a strongly worded attack on the global body that provides advice to governments on the body of scientific findings about climate change.
Newman also argued Australia had fallen “hostage to climate change madness” but he believed the “scientific delusion” was crumbling amid suggestions the global temperature could drop to little ice age levels.
The opposition described Newman as an embarrassment to Australia, saying he was not a scientist and therefore not qualified “to make such outrageous claims”. Continue reading
Olympic Dam uranium mine won’t replace Holden jobs
27 Dec 13 “The stalled Olympic Dam mine expansion is not the answer to job 
creation in South Australia, despite the Prime Minister’s vivid imagination”, according to Greens SA Parliamentary Leader, Mark Parnell MLC
“What the PM should be doing instead is focusing on how best to help South Australian industries create jobs in areas where we have a real competitive and natural advantage. 
If he opened his mind to the possibilities, he would see that SA is a leader in renewable energy and there is great potential for jobs growth in wind power, solar PV and in the emerging area of Solar Thermal, such as that proposed for Port Augusta to replace the existing dirty coal fired power stations. [See:http://bze.org.au/repower-port-augusta]
“That’s why the Prime Minister’s decision to axe the Clean Energy Finance Corporation is bad news for South Australia. It’s also why we should be very worried about his likely decision to water down the Renewable Energy Target. This target is the reason why so many energy companies chose to invest in South Australia over the last few years – because our abundant wind and solar resources give us the edge over other States in the grid.
“Liberal leader, Steven Marshall should be horrified at what his party is doing to South Australia’s future economic opportunities and he should be calling on the PM to change direction. Continue reading
Abbott picks pro nuker as Australia’s next Governor General
Peter Cosgrove to be governor-general DENNIS SHANAHAN THE AUSTRALIAN DECEMBER 26, 2013 GENERAL Peter Cosgrove is set to become the next governor-general of Australia, the formal announcement of the appointment of the popular former chief of the defence force expected late next month…..http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/peter-cosgrove-to-be-governorgeneral/story-fn59niix-1226789821832#
Cosgrove backs nuclear power
Lack of Australian nuclear plant almost immoral: Peter Cosgrove “….. it was “almost immoral” to export uranium to less technologically advanced and stable countries to use in nuclear power plants while refusing to have one in Australia………..We’re a rich and technologically advanced nation sitting in a geologically stable continent, so surely we can expect to build and operate safely a nuclear power station.”
Cosgrove wants nuclear answer to climate change Former Australian Defence Force chief Peter Cosgrove says Australia should adopt nuclear power as its response to climate change……Mr Abbott, however, says he agrees that nuclear power is the only realistic way to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining living standards. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-26/cosgrove-wants-nuclear-answer-to-climate-change/343990
Tony Abbott’s pretend revival of Olympic Dam uranium expansion plan
Tony Abbott’s push for Olympic Dam revival SID MAHER AND DENNIS SHANAHAN THE AUSTRALIAN DECEMBER 24, 2013 THE Abbott government has turned its sights on reigniting BHP Billiton’s giant Olympic Dam expansion as it seeks to find an economic antidote to Holden’s decision to cease carmarking in Australia from 2017. Federal ministers have held talks with BHP Billiton about ways to assist in the expansion of the South Australian uranium and copper project, including Research and development aid, approval processes and political stability in decision-making. …. (subscribers only) http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/tony-abbotts-push-for-olympic-dam-revival/story-fn59niix-1226789188416#
Tony Abbott getting ready to reneg on the Renewable Energy Target
“If Tony Abbott goes ahead and breaks this election promise, he will severely damage Australia’s efforts at reducing carbon pollution,”
Tony Abbott inclined to drop RET: Mark Butler SID MAHER THE AUSTRALIAN DECEMBER 24, 2013 LABOR has accused Tony Abbott of preparing to break an election promise on the Renewable Energy Target as Nationals senator Ron Boswell called for the scheme to be scrapped completely.
After The Australian reported that senior electricity industry executives had begun talks on the possible shape of a new scheme in anticipation of government changes, Labor’s climate change spokesman Mark Butler said the RET had been a “clear policy success”, driving investment in wind and solar power and creating thousands of clean energy jobs.
But Senator Boswell, who has been one of the most outspoken critics of the scheme, said the RET should be “scrapped altogether…” Continue reading
Tony Abbott risks causing a renewable energy revolt
Studies such as that conducted by the CSIRO suggest that nearly half of Australia’s households could cut themselves off from the grid if the networks and their government owners get too greedy and resist, rather than adopt, new technologies and new ways of doing business.
Why Tony Abbott may spark an Australian energy revolution REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson on 19 December 2013 The conservative campaign against Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) reached the highest echelons of public office this week, when Prime Minister Tony Abbott joined the throng blaming renewable energy for rising electricity bills.
We’ve got to accept … that in the changed circumstances of today, the renewable energy target is causing pretty significant price pressures in the system,” the Guardian quoted him as saying. “Cheap energy ought to be one of our comparative advantages …. I mean, this country ought to be an affordable-energy superpower.”http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/why-tony-abbott-may-spark-an-australian-energy-revolution-64382
I hate to break the news to you, great leader, but there is no longer any such thing as cheap fossil fuel energy in Australia – the gas export boom and greedy network operators have put paid to that. Continue reading
Under Liberal govt, Australian taxpayers might fund Small Nuclear White Elephants
No Nuclear Power for Australia Despite Being ‘Future Reliable Energy’ International Business Times, By Esther Tanquintic-Misa | December 18, 2013 Despite being listed offhand as a ‘future reliable
energy’ in an issues paper released no less than by the federal government, Australia will not consider using nuclear power. Not now nor even in the future…….
Australia’s Department of Industry, in an issue paper, said the government has started laying the groundwork for an Energy White Paper that will be delivered in 2014. The paper effectively sets out “an integrated and coherent Australian Government position on energy policy.”……
However, bells immediately rang out when the use of nuclear power was mentioned as most cost-efficient for Australia.
“A growing area of global interest is in the use of small modular reactors, which have the potential to reduce the cost uncertainties and construction timeframes associated with current generation reactor designs,” the paper said. “These reactors could be factory built, highly standardised and even used in locations without advanced infrastructure.”
The smaller size of the reactors may allow for more flexible deployment, making nuclear electricity available to isolated areas or countries with small or distributed electricity grid systems that cannot support conventional large-scale nuclear power.”
Dave Sweeney, nuclear free campaigner at the Australian Conservation Foundation, said he sees the Coalition’s mention of nuclear as “trying to keep the door open to the option… although it can see politically and economically it doesn’t add up.”……http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/530856/20131218/nuclear-australia-energy-uranium-japan-germany.htm#.UrMM69JDt9U
Australian govt coyly supporting new (untested, uneconomic) Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
Australian Government Invokes N Word In Energy Issues Paper Renewable Energy News 18 Dec 13 Perhaps like children hinting for Xmas gifts they know they have little hope of receiving, Australia’s government has referred to the N word (nuclear) in its Energy White Paper Issue Paper in quite glowing terms.
Nuclear is generally The Energy Option That Shall Not Be Named in terms of powering the country – however, the government appears to have attempted to plant the seeds of a future nuclear nation. Continue reading
Climate scepticism behind Abbott’s idea to scrap Renewable Energy Target
According to the Australian Energy Market Commission, the RET makes up less than 1% of the average household electricity bill.
Renewable energy: Tony Abbott signals he could wind back or scrap targetsPM says while Coalition supports ‘sensible use’ of renewable energy, scheme is ‘causing pretty significant price pressure’ Lenore Taylor, political editor theguardian.com, Wednesday 18 December 2013
Tony Abbott has signalled next year’s review of the renewable energy target could wind back, or even scrap, the scheme, saying lower power prices are the government’s primary goal and the rationale for the RET no longer exists.
Announcing modest government assistance for Holden, the prime minister also revealed he would chair a new taskforce to find ways to make industry more competitive, with reducing the cost of energy a primary aim.
Asked whether that could involve scaling back the RET, which was set up by the Howard government and requires energy retailers and large customers to source a proportion of their energy from renewable sources, Abbott said: “We support sensible use of renewable energy, and as you know it was former Howard government which initially gave us the RET and at the time it was important because we made very little use of renewable energy.”
But times had changed, he said. “We have to accept that in the changed circumstances of today, the renewable energy target is causing pretty significant price pressure in the system and we ought to be an affordable energy superpower … cheap energy ought to be one of our comparative advantages … what we will be looking at is what we need to do to get power prices down significantly,” he said.
Abbott said he would also “consult closely” with his Business Advisory Council, chaired by Maurice Newman, as the taskforce looked for ways to increase industry competitiveness.
Newman has previously called for the RET to be scrapped because he believes the scientific evidence for global warming and the economic case for renewable energy no longer stack up. Continue reading
Australian government insists that it says NO to nuclear power
Government rules out nuclear power for Australia by Trish Murphy The Guardian Oliver Milman December 18, 2013 The government has insisted it has no intention of introducing nuclear power to Australia after releasing a paper that states the technology continues to be an option for “future reliable energy”.
An issues paper released by the Department of Industry, which will inform an upcoming energy white paper, states that the need for low-carbon fuels means that nuclear is an option that can be “readily dispatched into the market”.http://fssalerts.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/government-rules-out-nuclear-power-for-australia/
Coalition government’s somewhat hypocritical statement on “no nuclear power”
Government rules out nuclear power for Australia Coalition insists it will not adopt the technology despite industry department paper calling it an option for ‘future reliable energy’ Oliver Milman theguardian.com, Tuesday 17 December 2013 The government has insisted it has no intention of introducing nuclear power to Australia after releasing a paper that states the technology continues to be an option for “future reliable energy”. Continue reading
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