South Australia just escaped a very poor deal of Olympic Dam as “China’s quarry”
SA government now wary of BHP: premier, Yahoo Finance, AAP – Wed, Aug 22, 2012 “…He [Premier Jay Weatherill ] said South Australia was now entitled to be wary when dealing with the company in future and warned the government would take a tougher approach to negotiations if asked to approve expansion a third time.
“We’ve been given to understand that BHP were proceeding with an expansion once. We’ve been given to believe that BHP will proceed with an expansion twice,” Mr Weatherill said. “If they come to us and seek permissions and approvals on a third
occasion, we will be taking a different approach to the negotiations….
the Greens said the delay was a “get-out-of-jail card” giving the government the chance to negotiate a much better deal.
“The 2011 deal was economically irresponsible, environmentally reckless and would have left South Australia as little more than China’s quarry,” Greens MP Mark Parnell said. “Despite giving the company nearly everything it wanted, it still
didn’t stack up economically.”… Continue reading
Tony Abbott’s inconvenient untruths revealed
he [Tony Abbott] appeared in mournful procession with his South Australian MPs to declare that the carbon and mining taxes were, in fact, responsible for BHP Billiton’s decision to shelve expansion plans for its Olympic Dam uranium and copper mine.
No matter that the mining tax applies to neither uranium nor copper and that the company had said the decision was entirely due to ”current market conditions including subdued commodity prices and higher capital costs” and that the ”tax environment for this particular project has not changed at all since we started working on it six or seven years ago”.
Lack of carnage Abbott’s inconvenient fiscal truth, WA Today, August 25, 2012, Lenore Taylor National Affairs Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald Perhaps Tony Abbott needs to send out a search party or post a reward because, bafflingly, his carbon tax wrecking ball appears to have gone missing. It’s now almost two months since the tax that he predicted would work like a ”wrecking ball”, with ”unimaginable” and devastating consequences for the economy, came into effect. To date there has been, from the Coalition’s point of view, a very inconvenient absence of devastation.
In fact, almost every economic statistic continues to look pretty good. Continue reading
Tony Abbott “misspoke” on Olympic Dam, revealing Liberals’ confusion about carbon pricing
Abbott having it both ways on BHP (includes video) August 23, 2012 Phillip Coorey Sydney Morning Herald It was eminently predictable the opposition was going to blame the decision to shelve the Olympic Dam expansion on the mining tax and the carbon price…..
When BHP announced the Olympic Dam decision yesterday, Kloppers’ statement cited ‘‘current market conditions, including subdued commodity prices and higher capital costs’’.
Minutes later, Tony Abbott, flanked by 10 South Australian Liberal MPs and senators, declared it was a catastrophic day for South Australia and blamed the mining tax and carbon taxes….
He kept at it on the 7.30 Report last night during an interview in which he said he had not read BHP’s statement issued hours earlier. Today he said he had misanswered the question and had read the statement…..
The Coalition is trying to have it both ways on the mining tax. It has been saying for months that the big miners, BHP included, have told it privately that they swindled the government during negotiations and will pay little or no tax for many years.
At the same time, the Coalition says the tax is killing such projects as Olympic Dam.
The mining tax did not apply to Olympic Dam because it only applies to iron ore and coal. There is a strong but unsubstantiated rumour in the industry that when the minerals giants renegotiated the mining tax with the government after Kevin Rudd was dumped, exempting uranium, gold and copper was a condition of Olympic Dam going ahead.
Either way, BHP cited neither the mining tax nor the carbon tax in its statement, and afterwards Kloppers told journalists the mining tax – which BHP will supposedly pay on its iron ore and coal projects – was not a factor.
‘‘As you know the tax environment for this particular project has not changed at all since we started working on it six or seven years ago,’’ he said.
‘‘The MRRT only covers coal and iron ore – not copper, not gold and not uranium – so the tax situation for this project has not changed. What has changed is the capital cost of construction. What has changed also is that post-Fukushima there is a different and still developing outlook on uranium..
.. Regardless of what BHP says, the opposition will continue to blame the carbon and mining taxes.
…: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/abbott-having-it-both-ways-on-bhp-20120823-24nle.html#ixzz24V97BzJ2
Calls for Australia’s nuclear wastes to go to Maralinga – Aboriginal political leader
AUDIO http://www.abc.net.au/rural/nt/content/201208/s3574500.htm Indigenous party wants radioactive dump built on nuked land ABC Rural News, By Steven Schubert, 23 August 2012 The founder of the First Nations Political Party is calling for the nuclear waste dumped proposed fo Muckaty Station north of Tennant Creek to be built at Maralinga in South Australia instead.
That’s the site where the British Government tested several nuclear bombs during the 50s.
Maurie Japarta Ryan is running for the party in the seat of Stuart at the election, and says he believes Maralinga would be a better site for the dump.
“Why wreck a pristine place where there’s water at Muckaty, why not use scientific evidence, which they all talk about, and move it to a place where they’ve already nuked Australian people at Maralinga in South Australia?
“What I’m saying is scientifically nothing lives there, nobody goes there.”…. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/nt/content/201208/s3574500.htm
DLP Senator John Madigan moves in Senate to stop Victorian wind farm
Senator tries to halt Bald Hills wind farm ABC News, Aug 23, 2012 The DLP Senator for Victoria, John Madigan, will put a motion to the Senate to stop a wind farm development at Bald Hills in the state’s east. The power company Mitsui is building the 50 tower wind farm near Inverloch, in South Gippsland.
Senator Madigan says the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke can stop the project….
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-23/senator-tries-to-halt-bald-hills-wind-farm/4217532
Tony Abbott’s untruthful performance on ABC TV’s 7.30 Report
Tony Goes The Full Abbott By Newmatilda.com, Ben Eltham, 23 Aug 12, The Opposition Leader let it all hang out on the 7.30 Report last night. Just how loose with the truth did he get? NM looked at the transcript and dug up some answers to the questions raised by the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s complicated relationship with the truth has been on the public record for a long time.
Just over two years ago he admitted in an interview with Kerry O’Brien that “sometimes, in the heat of discussion, you go a little bit further than you would if it was an absolutely calm, considered, prepared, scripted remark, which is one of the reasons why the statements that need to be taken absolutely as gospel truth is those carefully prepared scripted remarks”.
His various gaffes, withdrawals and evasions are now so numerous they warrant compilation in a handy reference guide.
But in last night’s 7:30 interview with Leigh Sales, the Opposition Leader went “full Abbott”. Nobody should have been surprised, but as he bulldozed one question after another, the extent of the Liberal party’s preference for “truth creation” became clear. This is what an Abbott Prime Ministership will look like — not a cobra strike on the truth, but a python squeeze.
Ben Eltham discusses the closure of BHP’s Olympic Dam project elsewhere at New Matilda today, but here’s an examination of how “loose with the truth” the Opposition leader got at a few key points of last night’s interview….
It’s easy to tune out when Abbott starts to recite his talking points. Julia Gillard is a liar, we can stop the boats, the carbon tax is destroying the economy, people seeking asylum are illegals.
And no, there wasn’t much that was new or unpredictable in Abbott’s performance last night, but the departures from the truth were so numerous and so egregious that they warrant comment.
Leigh Sales’ efforts to hold Abbott to account were admirable, but they didn’t work. To hear the alternative Prime Minister hold out on the very simple question of whether or not it’s legal to seek asylum was a grim portent of what’s to come. It displayed a disdain for the truth, for Sales, and for voters. http://newmatilda.com/2012/08/23/tony-goes-full-abbott
Senator Scott Ludlam addressing Senate on radioactive waste dump plan for Northern Territory
So the federal government is in enormous trouble and I suspect what is in the offing is probably a humiliating backdown. No matter what the outcome of the Federal Court, this is no way to treat the people of the Northern Territory
were pleased to be able to secure an amendment after negotiations with the government, which was also
supported by the coalition, to ensure that no international waste is stored in Australia.
Senator Scott Ludlam addressing the Senate 22 Aug 12, “…The issue I want to address directly is 
the idea that the best way to support economic development and Aboriginal advancement in the Northern Territory—and there seems to be a bizarre and nasty cross-party consensus about this between Labor and the CLP—is to dump radioactive waste on them…..
Directly after the 2007 election, responsibility passed to Martin Ferguson and the Howard agenda continued. It was shameful. The Howard government radioactive waste legislation was described by ALP MPs, in the run-up to the 2007 election, as ‘sordid’—and sordid it is. The idea that the best way to promote economic advancement in the Northern Territory is to post six of the loneliest security guards in the country to guard against people tampering with radioactive waste for the next three centuries absolutely beggars belief. They waved around a $12 million cheque in the community, north of Tennant Creek, which wanted a decent road and some community education support for their kids. That $12 million cheque was dangled in their faces in exchange for hosting what they thought was going to be a rubbish dump. Those were the words that were used—’rubbish dump’. Continue reading
Poor economic prospects for uranium mining, but Tony Abbott pledges his troth to it again
BHP Olympic Dam expansion vital to SA: Abbott Business Spectator, 20 Aug 2012 The
proposed Olympic Dam mine expansion is vital to the economic future of South Australia, but the only way to make it happen is to abolish mining taxes, federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has told a state Liberal conference…
.. BHP Billiton has until the end of the year to give the $30 billion expansion the final go-ahead or face the need to renegotiate approvals with the state government.
There is growing concern that global economic conditions will force the company to put its plans on hold, but South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says he cannot see any justification for granting the mining giants an extension to their agreement.
Mr Abbott said the mine expansion was being threatened by the federal government’s new mining taxes.
“The very best we can say of the Olympic Dam expansion is it is on a knife edge,” he said… http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Olympic-Dam-expansion-vital-to-SA-Abbott-XA4UZ?opendocument&src=rss
Exclusive meeting told of Australians’ approval of uranium mining, coal seam gas
Meanwhile, about 40 protestors turned up to voice their concerns outside the exclusive hotel.
CSG will be accepted, just like uranium: Hartcher ABC News 18 Aug 12, By Elyse Denman The Minister for Energy and Resources, Chris Hartcher, has told an energy forum in Armidale that coal seam gas will be accepted as an energy source, just like uranium.
The Minster says he’s convinced that public concern surrounding the coal seam gas industry will subside over time, just like the debate over uranium.
“There is no longer a community concern about uranium exploration or uranium mining,” he said. Continue reading
Red light for yellowcake in NSW: New campaign targets Premier’s uranium ambitions.
The NSW Uranium Free Charter and list of endorsing organisations is online at: http://nccnsw.org.au/uranium.
A community Charter opposing plans for development of a uranium mining industry in NSW will be launched at a public event in Sydney tonight, Thursday August 16.
The NSW Uranium Free Charter (attached and online at http://nccnsw.org.au/uranium) is an initiative of environment, trade union, public health and other groups concerned about the potential human and environmental impacts of uranium exploration and mining currently being promoted by the state government.
“The O’Farrell government has never taken its uranium plans to the people. This issue was not raised before the last state election and the government has no mandate to mine”, said Pepe Clarke from the Nature Conservation Council NSW. “In the shadow of Fukushima we should not be opening the back door to this dirty and dangerous trade”.
The Charter details concerns over the impact of uranium mining and the wider nuclear industry and calls for a shared energy future that is renewable – not radioactive. The document will be launched at the AMWU’s Tom Mann Theatre at 6pm tonight as part of a broadly endorsed public meeting. Continue reading
Environment and health groups call for end to Angela Pamela uranium uncertainty
Less than 2 weeks out from the election residents of Central Australia are left with the threat that either party could proceed with approval for a uranium mine at Angela Pamela, putting at risk the health of residents, our underground water supplies and the local environment.
The Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) and the Public Health Association of Australia NT Branch (PHAA-NT) are calling on all parties and candidates to grant certainty to the Alice Springs community by committing to the enacting the Special Reserved Land status for Angela Pamela, thus protecting the site from any future mining activity.
In December 2011 the ALEC and PHAA-NT independently wrote to Minister Kon Vatskalis on behalf of Alice Springs residents concerned with the proposed development of a uranium mine within the Water Control District of Alice Springs. The letter requested the Minister to follow through on pre-election commitments to protect the deposit from mining.
Both groups specifically called upon the Minister to use powers granted under the Mineral Titles Act (2010) to act in the interest of the community and essential environmental services by granting the site a Special Reserved Land Order under Section 112 of the Act. The move would require the Minister to request a surrender of the current exploration license, giving certainty to the people of Alice Springs that any future government would be required to undertake a 30 day community consultation period before the Special Reserved status could be lifted.
ALEC Coordinator, Jimmy Cocking stated ‘The current uncertainty around the possibility of a uranium mine at Angela Pamela hinders our progress as a ‘world class’ solar city, a water smart town and reduces the desire for locally grown produce.’
On the eve of entering caretaker government status Minister Vatskalis responded by dodging the question of why in two years the government has taken no action to formally protect the Angela Pamela deposit, and instead reiterated NT Labor’s non-binding policy position to oppose a uranium mine at the site.
PHAA NT Branch Secretary Clive Rosewarne stated “This election we are looking for candidates to make a genuine and binding commitment to ensure the Angela Pamela deposit stays in the ground, and that means making the Minister genuinely respond to community pressure by invoking the Special Reserved Land provision of the Act”.
For further information/comment: Jimmy Cocking, Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) 0423 511 931 Clive Rosewarne, Public Health Association Australia (NT Branch) 0487 282 303
How the ALP government betrayed Australians on Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan
The first thing that happened subsequent to the Rudd Government taking office after the 2007 election was that radioactive waste management issues were mysteriously taken out of the science portfolio, where they had been right through the period of the Howard government and well before, and given to Martin Ferguson in the resources and industry portfolio. To transfer radioactive waste management from the science portfolio to the resources portfolio was to give it to somebody with absolutely no expertise, no subtlety and no willingness to follow through with the ALP’s election commitment.
THIS LAND IS NOT NOWHERE; THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT NO-ONE, Right Now, By Scott Ludlam , 13 Aug 12, This article is part of our August theme, which focuses on the environment and human rights. Read more articles on this theme.
The government is attempting to force a nuclear waste facility on to Muckaty Station, a cattle station 120 kilometres from Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, in direct violation of the commitments the ALP made in the run-up to the 2007 election. The proposal is strongly contested and the subject of a Federal Court challenge in which Traditional Owners argue they were not consulted by the Northern Land Council. They also argue that the proposed site is not one the Commonwealth can negotiate with one group of Owners given that at least five groups have interconnected and interwoven responsibility there. Matters do not reach the Federal Court on a whim; the Muckaty case goes to the heart of respect for Aboriginal land rights, and whether Australia will violate the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that prohibits storage of disposal of hazardous materials in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples without their free, prior and informed consent……
[In 2005] the ALP condemned the nuclear dump legislation, with MPs and Senators accurately describing it as extreme, arrogant, heavy-handed, draconian, sorry, sordid, extraordinary and profoundly shameful. The ALP took a very clear and unequivocal position on this issue into the closing months of the 2007 election campaign.
The failure of the Committee to visit Muckaty or hold a hearing in Tennant Creek undermines the accuracy of claims about the process engaging all stakeholders.
The party’s platform of that time reflected that Labor was “committed to a responsible, mature and international best practice approach to radioactive waste management in Australia” and would “establish a process for identifying suitable sites that is scientific, transparent, accountable, fair and allows access to appeal mechanisms.” There was also a commitment to “international best practice scientific processes to underpin Australia’s radioactive waste management, including transportation and storage.”
That clear and sound position taken by the ALP makes their actions in office all the more bitterly disappointing. Continue reading
Victoria’s Baillieu government destroying wind industry in that State
the Baillieu government has introduced severe planning restrictions, with 14 of the 18 previously publicly announced wind farm proposals that are now unlikely to proceed located in that state.
The wind farms that Baillieu killed. REneweconomy By Giles Parkinson 9 August 2012 If Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu came to power with a determination to kill off opportunities for wind farm development in Victoria, then he can be proud of his work.
The annual Electricity Statement of Opportunities released today by the Australian Energy Market Operator highlights how much the opportunities for wind farm developments in Victoria have been reduced in the past year. Continue reading
Australia’s Prime Minister, and politicians just don’t “get” the solar photovoltaic energy revolution
Solar PV industry has a fight on its hands, REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson 7 August 2012 Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s speech about the need for electricity market reform is hugely welcome, but it highlights some of the challenges that the solar PV industry will face in the near and medium term future.
Gillard today outlined her plan to gain COAG agreement on changes to energy pricing regulation, moving energy towards a service than a commodity, and recognising the value of demand management and energy efficiency.
But like the rest of Labor, she and her advisors do not yet get solar. As Energy Minister Martin Ferguson and Climate Change Minister Greg Combet have said in recent weeks, Gillard trotted out the old canard: solar PV is the plaything of the rich. And who should we blame for such nonsense? Well, let’s start with AGL Energy…..Solar PV is on the cusp of becoming a game changer in Australia because it is able to deliver electricity to households cheaper than via the grid. Some say it could be the the firstmass-market for solar PV in the world. Its availability will increase massively as new financing models are introduced that offer zero cost upfront. That message is understood by some, but not by many. It has the potential to change the nature of the electricity debate and the political debate too.
AGL Energy is happy – via its highly influential series of economic papers – to demonise solar PV as a rich person’s indulgence that penalises the poor, because having great swathes of panels installed across the roofs of Australia, as envisaged by recent AEMO forecasts, does not fit easily into its business model. Nor does it fit easily with other generators and network operators, which is why many are trying to push back against its deployment with tariff changes and other regulation as we highlighted in this story How utilities propose to kill solar PV.
Yet, solar is having a demonstrable impact. According to the REC Agents Association, an industry body, the combination of energy efficiency and solar PV will reduce demand on the network by around 10,66gGWy, or 5 per cent, by 2015. Around one fifth of Australian households already have solar power or a solar hot water system.
The challenge for the solar industry is to make sure that their message is understood – not just by the public, but by the politicians too. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/solar-pv-industry-has-a-fight-on-its-hands-35969
South Australian govt not keen to extend Olympic Dam agreement. BHP tightlipped
No extension offer to BHP – Weatherill. Christopher Russell The Advertiser August 01, 2012 PREMIER Jay Weatherill has rejected suggestions the State Government has offered to grant BHP Billiton an extension to the
indenture agreement on the Olympic Dam project.
Reacting to interstate reports that the Government was offering BHP an olive branch and was willing to “entertain” an extension, Mr Weatherill said he had been misinterpreted.
The Government’s position had consistently been that it wanted BHP Billiton to make a decision by the December 15 expiry date of the indenture agreement….. “There has been no proposition advanced to us that would justify an extension of the 12-month period at this time.”
This is consistent with Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis who has previously stated the Government would be reluctant to grant an extension… Despite outside speculation, BHP Billiton has said again this week that no decision has been made on the Olympic Dam project.
Its Adelaide office continues to work on a proposal to present to the BHP Billiton board.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/no-extension-offer-to-bhp-weatherill/story-e6frea6u-1226440162081
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 