Senators John Madigan and Nick Xenophon move to stop wind farms
In July 2010, the National Health and Medical Research Council found that there is no published scientific evidence to support adverse effects of wind turbines on health.
Given their currently significant, and potentially enormous, contribution to reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, wind farms should not be held guilty until proven otherwise.
Wind farms: guilty until proven otherwise? http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/wind-farms-guilty-until-proven-otherwise, 22 Oct 2012 Albert Yu Recent reports show that coal-fired power stations are finding it difficult to operate in the new market environment with falling electricity demand, a carbon price and the renewable energy target. Meanwhile, as noted by the Productivity Commission last week, wind generation is an “increasingly important source of power” in the National Electricity Market, highlighted by news of the first turbines turning at Australia’s largest wind farm to date, the 420 MW Macarthur wind farm.
As reported on Climate Spectator last month, wind power has allowed South Australia to transform itself from almost entirely being an importer of power from Victoria to being an exporter during high wind periods, whilst significantly reducing the state’s carbon emissions.
On the other hand, sitting before the Senate is the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Excessive Noise from Wind Farms ) Bill 2012, introduced on June 28 by Senators John Madigan and Nick Xenophon to (in Senator Madigan’s words) “ensure we do not see any expansion in the number of wind farm refugees.” Continue reading
Western Australian Labor party’s weak opposition to uranium mining
Uranium mine: ‘more than the issues we’ll lock on to’ Green Left , October 20, 2012 By Alex BainbridgeTwenty-four hours after telling the world that “people need to start showing some respect for the environment they live in”, WA environment minister Bill Marmion showed what he meant by that statement by approving Western Australia’s first uranium mine The October 9 decision gives state approval to Toro Energy for its Wiluna uranium mine. The mine still requires approval from the federal Labor government, but the state approval is considered to be a major hurdles passed.
The state Labor opposition tries to walk both sides of the street, claiming it is opposed to uranium mining but promising not to close down any mines approved by the current government. This stance contrasts with the policy WA Labor had under its previous leader and is a marker of the shift to the right under Mark McGowan.
Socialist Alliance candidate for Willagee Sam Wainwright said this is a mistaken policy. “Labor should be threatening to reverse approval for the mine and promising to utilise every democratic means possible – including the power of the people – to avoid paying a cent in compensation.
“At the moment, Labor is just giving comfort to the uranium industry and promising to give them a toe-hold to maintain their existence – just as the Bob Hawke government did in 1983 with their ‘Three mines policy’…… Anti-Nuclear Alliance of WA spokesperson, Marcus Atkinson told Green Left Weekly that after protesting at Toro, the group moved to state parliament where they were joined by Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Steve McCartney who spoke against the approval.
Other speakers included former Greens senator Jo Vallentine and anti-nuclear campaigner Mia Pepper.
ANAWA is planning to contest the mines development in every possible way, including a possible legal challenge….. http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52565
Ducking and weaving about India’s nuclear safety – Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO)
Senator LUDLAM: …. Are you aware of the recent report by their Auditor-General that absolutely slams the industry?
Mr Shannon: Yes.
Senator LUDLAM: ……. if you are not convinced-as the Indian Auditor-General certainly isn’t-that those plants are being run to anything like world’s best practice, a sales agreement would not occur?
Ms Bird: These are all issues which will be worked through during the negotiating practice process.
http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/estimates/australian-safeguards-and-non-proliferation-office-asno Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) 18 Oct 2012 | Scott Ludlam Supplementary Senate Estimates – Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee – 18 October 2012 “Dr Kalish is the acting DG of ASNO……
Senator LUDLAM: … Can you tell us officially, from the point of view of ASNO, what the status is of the bilateral safeguards agreement with India?….
Dr Kalish: Negotiation has not commenced on that treaty.
Senator LUDLAM: Well, it has been announced to the entire planet that there will be an agreement. So ASNO has not yet begun work on any such agreement?
Dr Kalish: I believe what was announced was that negotiations would commence on an agreement.
Senator LUDLAM: Can you just sketch for us the process by which those negotiations will be conducted?
Mr Shannon:….. The agreement has been reached to start the negotiations, which was last night, our time. Advice is being
assembled for ministers to consider the mandate. …. We think it will take some time, maybe a year or two. We do not have a feel for it yet
Senator LUDLAM: It sounds like a big announcement has been made but actually there is nothing at all in terms of how these negotiations will progress or, from an Australian side, who the lead organisation will be, who our negotiators will be.
Mr Shannon: No. Those things have not yet been finally decided…… Continue reading
Uranium mining in Western Australia – the Barnett Government’s Betrayal
The Premier has shown his colours this week by attacking the Renewable Energy Target and supporting a half-baked scheme to mine toxic material and sell it to a dangerous industry that is in terminal decline. The Wiluna project makes no sense whatsoever on an economic level as well as an environmental level.
10 October 2012 The Western Australian Minister for Environment has handed down his flawed decision to approve the Toro Energy Wiluna Uranium Project today. This mine, if not stopped, will be the first uranium mine to open since the change in uranium policy by the Western Australian Government in 2008.
The State Government has failed to place adequate conditions on mine closure for Toro’s Wiluna Project. Toro has not revealed estimates of future mine closure liability and has not submitted a final rehabilitation plan. Despite the scarcity of water in the area, the Minister failed to determine adequate water resource for the life of the mine. Continue reading
Woomera, the size of England, to open for uranium mining
Woomera Prohibited Area Open to Resources Development 04 October 2012 Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Defence Martin Ferguson MP Minister for Resources & Energy Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson today announced the next step in opening up the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) in South Australia to minerals exploration and resources development.
“The Woomera Prohibited Area has great economic potential, with estimates that more than $35 billion of developments, including iron ore, gold and uranium projects would be possible over the next decade, ” Mr Ferguson said.
“We can now consider new applications for access to the area from companies wishing to explore for minerals,” Mr Smith said…..
Minister Ferguson said that implementing the recommendations of the Hawke Review will help secure the longevity of our minerals resources sector….. The Review is being implemented in three phases – the moratorium on the granting of new non-Defence entrants access to the WPA, a transitional phase involving the development and implementation
of enabling legislation, and a final phase where transitional arrangements are implemented and where permanent arrangements are put in place.Further information is available at www.defence.gov.au/woomera/
Woomera Prohibited Area, Australian Department of Defence The Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) is a globally unique military testing range. It covers 127,000 square kilometres in north-west South Australia, approximately 450 kilometres NNW of Adelaide. It is the largest land range in the world, with a centre line of over 600 kilometres, comparable in size to England….The WPA comprises extensive lands north of the Indian Pacific railway, from Maralinga in the south-west up to its north-west corner in the Great Victoria Desert (that stretches across the SA-WA border), across to Coober Pedy, and west of Roxby Downs down to Woomera in the south-east.. http://www.defence.gov.au/woomera/about.htm
Big mining companies again exercise their power over the Australian government
Miners’ push for inquiry successful The Observer, Daniel Burdon | 29th September 2012 FOUR Australian mining industry heavyweights dominated a “policy transition group” which two years ago recommended the Federal
Treasurer launch an inquiry into the regulatory hurdles for minerals and energy exploration.
On Thursday, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson and Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury announced the Productivity Commission inquiry would go ahead.
Mr Ferguson also sat on the policy transition group, alongside former BHP Billiton chairman Don Argus; non-executive chairman of uranium explorer Toro Energy, Dr Erica Smyth; non-executive chairman of Clough Ltd, Keith Spence; and David Klingner, a former Rio Tinto executive and current director of uranium miner Energy Resources
Australia….
… The commission will recommend changes to the Federal Government, as well as what could be done at the state level, which the Commonwealth has committed to refer to the states for action under Council of Australian Governments arrangements. http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2012/09/29/miners-push-inquiry-successful/
Family First Party tries to stop wind energy for homes
Push to close turbine loophole before 10m-high structures are erected
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/push-to-close-turbine-loophole-before-10m-high-structures-are-erected/story-e6frea83-1226482927714 Emma Altschwager The Advertiser September 27, HOUSEHOLDERS can cash in on wind power by erecting turbines up to 10m high in their backyard that could transform suburban skylines.
But the window of opportunity could be slammed shut by Family First, which wants to change development regulations and allow neighbours to have a say in the erection of any wind turbines in their street. Continue reading
BHP’s shares down as it dallies again with the expensive Olympic Dam dream
BHP seeks more time on Olympic Dam Kristie Batten , 27 September 2012 THE South Australian government says it will carefully consider a request by BHP Billiton for an extension to the December deadline for its shelved $A28 billion Olympic Dam expansion
The government received a letter requesting the four-year extension beyond December 15 ahead of a meeting between the miner and Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy Tom Koutsantonis in Adelaide yesterday.
“Very careful consideration will now be given to the company’s request and the reasons given for seeking an extension,” Koutsantonis said in a statement…….
this will require a lot more work at the pit, a lot more work here in Adelaide and the scale and the scope of that work will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.”
However, SA Greens politician Mark Parnell told ABC Adelaide the government should reject the request and renegotiate.
“Extending a bad deal for four more years doesn’t improve it one iota,” he said.
“This is really a chance for South Australia to renegotiate with the world’s richest resource company a deal that looks after the environment, is better for the economy, guarantees local jobs and makes sure that all South Australians benefit from the resources that we own.”
BHP has said it did not expect to approve any major projects in the current financial year. Shares in BHP last traded 27c down to $32.54.
Solar energy going backwards in Queensland, with its anti-renewable energy government
Queensland a leader in solar? Not on Campbell Newman’s watch By Charis Palmer 27 September 2012 The Conversation Around the clock solar power could be a reality for Australians in the foreseeable future, but experts say a hostile state government stands in the way of Queensland becoming the solar power leader suggested by the Climate Commission.
The latest instalment from the Climate Commission on the impacts and opportunities of climate change is “wilfully blind to reality”, with no mention of the massive coal and coal seam gas industries in Queensland, said Chris McGrath, senior lecturer in environmental regulation at the University of Queensland. The report says Queensland’s solar resources are among the best in the world, and the state should take more advantage of the opportunity.
But in the absence of positive deployment policies from the state government, it will take some time to see large solar power stations serving retail customers, said Mark Diesendorf, deputy director of the Institute of Environmental Studies at University of New South Wales. The Climate Commission’s report cites the Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project, which will provide a solar thermal addition to the neighbouring coal-fired power station, expected to be the largest solar integration project in the world.
But in July, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman withdrew $75 million in funding from the proposed stand-alone 250 megawatt Solar Dawn project near Chinchilla.
Dr Diesendorf said concentrated solar thermal could be vital to solar power generation in the longer term. “It’s not very expensive to store the heat on concentrated solar thermal and therefore have 24 hour solar power.”
But with several coal-fired power stations running at less than capacity in Queensland, organisations investing in new solar infrastructure will find it difficult to compete, Dr McGrath said. He added that the government’s focus remained on coal and coal seam gas, with renewables seen as a small component only.
“They’re talking about Queensland as a leader for solar, but Queensland’s going backwards in terms of participating in any funding for addressing climate change, and unwinding programs.” Dr McGrath said the picture painted by the Climate Commission in its report is the same one that’s been painted for ten years with no action taken.
He said a blunter approach was needed from the Commission and agreed that while it may not be an advocacy group, it was up to scientists to point out the consequences of policy choices. “It’s not advocating if you say the 5 per cent by 2020 goal will lead to three degrees warming and we won’t have a Great Barrier Reef at this point. That’s just joining the dots for people to see.”
Australian govt to expand its nuclear industry at Lucas Heights, Sydney
Govt to invest $168m in nuclear medicine 9 News Sep 19 2012 The federal government says it will get a $1 billion return from investing $168 million in nuclear medicine and treatment to create jobs, and help half a million Australians and millions of people around the world.
Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Science and Research, has announced the investment plan to construct a nuclear medicine manufacturing plant and a world first Synroc plan will generate 250 jobs.
It will be delivered by scientists at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at Lucas Heights using the existing low-enriched uranium reactor.
The nuclear medicine manufacturing plant will secure Australia’s ability to produce Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) which is used for diagnosis of heart disease, cancers, and kidney and gastrointestinal tract
disorders, Senator Evans said…
..Today is an important day for the 550,000 people who require a nuclear medicine procedure in Australia each year, as well as the 45 million people across the globe who will be able to access Australian-produced nuclear medicine,” Senator Evans said.
Australia will earn a return by meeting half the world’s needs for Mo-99, he said…. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8535511
Greens urge PM to raise human rights and nuclear safety on India tour
Senator Scott Ludlam. 16 September 2012. The Australian Greens have urged the Prime Minister to use her impending visit to India to speak out on the ongoing repression of Indian communities opposed to nuclear power.
Massive protests against new reactors in India are adding to the global pressure on the slumping nuclear power industry.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said the democratic right to protest was being steamrolled by the Indian police.
“In Koodankulum nuclear reactors are being forced on local residents at gunpoint, and uranium fuel loading is imminent despite 10 safety guidelines having not been met. Brutal repression has been carried out by the police against tens of thousands of peaceful protestors at the reactor. Two people have been shot dead by police, most recently Anthony Samy just five days ago. There have been at least five deaths in the struggles against Koodankulam, Jaitapur (Maharashtra) and Gorakhpur (Haryana) nuclear power plants since 2010.
“In 2011 one of India’s pioneer nuclear scientists and formerly a member of India’s Atomic Energy Commission, Dr MP Parameswaran, said India should suspend its entire nuclear program because of safety risks and the unresolved problem of nuclear waste.
“Earlier this year India was ranked 28th out of 32 countries in terms of the security of their nuclear stockpiles. Making matters worse, the new Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) has fewer powers and less independence than the previous Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. The NSRA is a puppet body: answerable to a handful of government ministers who can issue orders to the body, and sack its members.”
Senator Ludlam will move a motion for the Senate to call on the Prime Minister to make nuclear safety, nuclear proliferation, and the human right to peaceful protest major issues in her October visit to India.
Media Contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302
More details:
Nuclear safety in India: http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/indian-nuclear-security-ranked-among-worst-world-will-labor-persist-uranium-s
The anti-nuclear struggle in India: http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-urge-uranium-rethink-anti-nuclear-movement-besieged-india
India and nuclear proliferation: http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/labor-backflip-uranium-sales-india-unethical-illogical-and-probably-illegal
NSW govt pushes ahead in promoting uranium exploration
map shows (yellow) area where uranium might be explored for
NSW explores uranium mining, Australian Mining, September, 2012 Vicky Validakis NSW Resources Minister Chris Hartcher announced on Saturday the government was open to expressions of interest from miners wanting to
explore Group 11 minerals, which includes uranium and thorium, The Australian Financial Review reported. ..
… The announcement follows the government’s controversial move to overturn the state’s 26-year ban on uranium exploration.
Legislation overturning the exploration ban passed through the state’s upper house unamended, despite opposition from Greens and Labor MPs, who said the government had no mandate…… Applications will close
on November 13. http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/nsw-explores-uranium-mining
Queensland’s LCP govt backflips on its election promise to keep ban on uranium mining
Environmentalists says LNP reneging on uranium ban agreement THE AUSTRALIAN 17 September, 2012 Cole Latimer Green groups say the Queensland Government has backflipped on its promise to ban uranium mining after opening discussions on the metal’s future on Friday.
QLD mines minister Andrew Cripps opened the floor for discussion last week after the Queensland Resources Council and the Australia Uranium Association called on Campbell Newman’s Government to make a decision on uranium’s future…… ACF spokesperson Dave Sweeny said the LNP has previously pledged to keep the uranium ban in place, The
Australian reports .
“We remind the Queensland government and the LNP they went with a clear commitment to the people they had no intention to expand or facilitate the uranium industry in Queensland,” he said.
We will actively take part in this debate highlighting the costs and consequences both here and overseas,” he said.
“Don’t forget Australian uranium was inside Fukushima (nuclear reactors in Japan) when it melted down. “Rocks from Kakadu are now causing radioactive fallout.”
It comes only days after Australian uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) was accused of ‘stealthily’ attempting to mine uranium.
Anti nuclear waste candidate elected to Auburn City Council, New South Wales
Fourth socialist elected to a local council in Australia, Green Left, September 14, 2012 By Peter Boyle, SydneyThe Communist Party of Australia’s (CPA) Tony Oldfield was elected to Auburn Council in the NSW local government elections on September 8. He became the fourth socialist to be elected as a local councillor around the country. The others are Sam Wainwright (Socialist Alliance, Fremantle Council) and Steve Jolly and Anthony Main (Socialist Party, Yarra City Council, Victoria).
Oldfield was elected as part of a local community activist group called “The Battler” . The group has been campaigning to stop the Coalition state government sending radioactive waste from the north shore suburb of Hunters Hill to a storage facility in Lidcombe….. http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52229
Renewed lobbying for uranium mining in Queensland
Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson, in a speech to the uranium industry in June, called on Queensland to lift the ban. “The Australian Government urges Queensland to take the next step and to also remove its ban on uranium mining
LNP silent on uranium mining front Gympie Times, Daniel Burdon, APN Newsdesk | 13th September 2012 A RENEWED push by the state resources lobby to reopen Queensland to uranium mining has been met with silence by the Newman Government. Continue reading
1 This month.
20 September –National Day of Action in Melbourne on the International Day of Peace
Help Aunty Sue Protect Her Land and Sacred Sites From Destructive Rocket Testing.
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Australians deserve the truth
about
AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
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