Australian Greens urge Future Fund to stop investing in nuclear weapons
4 April 12, Greens welcomed new Future Fund chief David Gonski today and urged him to hit the ground running by cutting the Fund’s links to nuclear weapons. Greens spokesperson for nuclear policy Senator Scott Ludlam said that as of January 2012, the Fund holds more than $133million of shares in 14 companies involved in nuclear weapons programs.
“The Greens urge Mr Gonski to lead the way on cutting all ties between the Future Fund and the nuclear weapons industry. The Future Fund has rightly ruled out investing in the cluster munitions industry, and this approach should be applied to nuclear weapons of mass destruction.”
Senator Ludlam praised members of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons who gathered at the Future Fund office in Melbourne today to draw attention to Fund’s investment in nuclear weapons. “Any firm involved with nuclear weapons should not receive a cent from the Australian tax-payer. These weapons are immoral, unethical and indiscriminate. They are designed to cause maximum and long-lasting destruction to civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
“The Fund’s investment in the offending companies makes up less than one percent of its total portfolio, and a divestment will do no damage to the Future Fund while making an important statement against nuclear weapons.” The Greens currently have a bill before the Senate that would make the Future Fund’s divestment from nuclear weapons law.
Liberal/National M.P. wants uranium mining in New South Wales – just not in his backyard
map shows uranium exploration areas in NSW
MP supports uranium exploration Northern Rivers Echo, Rebecca Masters | 30th March 2012 TWEED MP Geoff Provest has supported legislation changes that allow uranium exploration across the state but maintains he is still firmly against any form of mining on the Tweed..
… State Labor MP Walt Secord raised his fears in parliament this week that the legislation opened the door to uranium mining throughout the Clarence Moreton Basin on the north coast, potentially contaminating the environment and risking the health of communities in the Tweed.
“In 1986, in a spirit of bipartisanship, the NSW parliament agreed that the potential release of toxic elements could contaminate large areas of land and pollute our rivers,” Mr Secord said.
“They knew then, as Labor knows now, that there is still no failsafe way to transport and manage nuclear waste. “Make no mistake, the government’s decision to allow uranium exploration is a huge betrayal.”…….
Outside of parliament, Mr Provest has dismissed Mr Secord’s comments as “fear-mongering.”…….. “I will always be against any form of mining on the north coast, this is simply to give us an idea of what is in the ground.”
Queensland Premier will demolish environmental funding programs
Australia: Queensland Premier axes environmental funds 28. MARCH 2012 PV Magazine, BY: SHAMSIAH ALI-OETTINGER The new premier of Queensland Liberal National Party’s (LNP) Campbell Newman plans to axe the state’s climate change and renewable energy programs, including funds allocated for solar flagship programs. The Newman government is said to be planning the abolishment of eight of the former Labor government’s environmental funds, the 300 million Australian dollars (AUD) climate change fund and the AUD50 million renewable energy fund.
The other funds identified were the Queensland smart energy savings fund, the future growth fund, solar initiatives
package, waste avoidance and resource efficiency fund and the local government sustainable future fund. The FITs will however remain for Queensland’s home solar power systems at AUD0.44/kWh for surpluselectricity fed into the grids….
Victoria backs out too The state of Victoria also decided to back out of the 2020 20% emissions reduction target that was set by the Labor government. The conservatives supported this scheme when Labor was in power. The pressure mounted on the Victorian government from opponents such as Exxon Mobil.
: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/australia–queensland-premier-axes-environmental-funds_100006254/#ixzz1qXst4p48
New South Wales Upper House passes uranium exploration legislation by 20 votes to 18
the Government had no mandate for uranium exploration……..Mr O’Farrell had declared to Parliament in August 2011 that the Government had no plans to allow uranium mining or exploration.
Uranium ban lifted by NSW Parliament, Herald Sun AAP March 28, 2012 LEGISLATION to repeal a ban on uranium exploration has passed through the NSW Parliament, with MPs in the state’s Upper House supporting it by 20 votes to 18. The legislation passed through the Legislative Council unamended today, despite opposition from Greens and Labor
MPs…
.. Separate legislation would be required to lift the NSW ban on uranium mining. Continue reading
NSW’s new uranium Bill extinguishes need for consent from Land Councils, and excludes uranium from Aborignal Land Rights Act
Natalie Wasley, 29 March 12, New South Wales’ new Bill allowing fro uranium exploration alters a series of other legislation, including The Mining Act, Radiation Control Act, State Environment and Planning Act and Aboriginal Land Rights Act.
Uranium exploration in New South Wales? – call for inquiry into govt OK to this
Since Premier O’Farrell announced his intention to open up uranium exploration in this state, thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the government to maintain the uranium ban.
Inquiry should probe O’Farrell’s okay to uranium search – ecology groups, Cowra Community News,
http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php?newsid=142&id=4 28 March 12, STATE and national environment groups have called for an independent public review into uranium mining in New South Wales as legislation to allow exploration is due to be debated in parliament today (Wednesday).
Premier Barry O’Farrell has no mandate to change a long-standing and popular policy banning uranium projects in the state, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Beyond Nuclear Initiative say in a joint statement. The groups have criticised the lifting of the ban on uranium exploration, urging the State Government to set up a public inquiry into the uranium industry. Continue reading
Renmark Council concerned about radioactive waste transport – may declare nulcear-free zone
Council considers nuclear-free declaration, ABC News, March 28, 2012 The Renmark Paringa Council says it is worried about the possible transport of nuclear waste through South Australia’s Riverland. Federal Parliament recently passed legislation to set up a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. The council decided at last night’s meeting to write to the federal Resources and Energy Minister, Martin Ferguson, seeking more information about transport arrangements.
Council CEO Tony Siviour says it is also considering declaring its district nuclear-free.
“The only understanding that we have is that the proposed route is through the Riverland instead of going through the Blue Mountains, so that concerns us,” he said….. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-28/council-considers-nuclear-free-declaration/3917592
Independent expertise needed to deal with radioactive waste, not a shed in the NT
22 Mar An independent commission of experts should be created to decide how to deal with the nation’s radioactive medical waste, the Australian Greens urged today. Senator Scott Ludlam said the Greens had tried to legislate for an independent commission on radioactive waste but faced “a wall of dogma” from the major parties.
“Wednesday’s report on the ABC’s 7.30 concluded with the suggestion this was an intractable problem – but it doesn’t need to be. We need a body that has the skills and expertise to determine what is the safest and most sustainable way to deal with this waste, rather than banishing it to a shed built on the land of people who don’t want it there, watched by two security guards rather than qualified technicians.”
The Greens have pushed for the establishment of the Independent Commission on the Long Term Safe Storage, Transport and Management of Australia’s Radioactive Waste.
“Through this Commission, Australia could apply world’s best practice to responsibly deal with the 4020m3 of so-called low-level and short-lived intermediate radioactive waste and the approximately 600m3 of long-lived waste in this country, and also to deal with the 32 cubic metres of spent research reactor fuel that is returning to Australia from reprocessing in France and the UK in 2015-16.”
Senator Ludlam led the two-year struggle in the Federal Parliament against the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill, legislation which finally passed last week and makes it legal for the Government to force a waste dump on Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory.
Voters in Mt Isa electorate have no choice on the uranium issue
Fiona Lake , commenting on Queensland election policies With leaking tailings dams already in her electorate, it is astonishing that Betty Kiernan is in favour of a uranium mine on her doorstep.
And so much for a democracy providing us with a real choice, with the 3 main contenders all in favour of uranium mining.
I’ll be voting for whoever publicly guarantees that they will not be considering uranium mining in their term of government and I bet I’m not the only one. Voters need firm policies and they need them right now, not each way
bet ‘we might consider it’, statements.
Parties say uranium mining could happen in Queensland ABC rural news By Paul Sutherland , 21/03/2012 The LNP and ALP candidates in Queensland’s Mount Isa electorate both say their parties’ opposition to uranium mining in the state could change….
Labor member Betty Kiernan says while her party opposes mining the mineral, there’s no reason why the policy won’t be overturned….
Rob Katter, the Katter’s Party candidate for the electorate, made his position clear – if that party wins in Saturday’s election, uranium mining would be legalised…. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201203/s3460350.htm
Decision to sell uranium to India could backfire badly on the Gillard government
If their err in judgement places Australia on the wrong side of nuclear proliferation or nuclear safety history, Gillard and the Labor Right would face political kryptonite capable of removing them from power and tarnishing their records forever……
Despite Gillard’s Victory, Australian Uranium Exports to India Debate Far from Over, HUFFINGTON POST, Wddie Walsh, 21 March 12, – “…… a number of important foreign policy issues will continue to divide Labor as Gillard looks to consolidate her power. One of the most serious is her position on Australian uranium exports to India. This
poses a chronic risk for both Gillard and the Labor Right – just as it does for the United States… Continue reading
Greens to alert the Senate on the anti nuclear protest crisis in India
Senator Scott Ludlam will put a motion to the Senate – noting India’s repressive frackdown on anti nuclear protestors, and the growing anti nuclear movement in India, – and also the illegality of Australia selling uranium to India (non signatory to the NPT.)
The motion will call on the Australian government to protest the Indian government’s actions against peaceful protestors in Koodankulam, and warn on nuclear safety procedures, and on the need for independent nuclear regulation. It will call on the Australain government not to allow sales of uranium outside the Nuclear non Proliferation Treaty Continue reading
Victoria’s Liberal government pushing ahead with brown coal
Victoria announces plans to cash in on brown coal reserves 
ABC Radio National P.M. March 20, 2012 MARK COLVIN: A carbon tax was supposed to spell the death of brown coal but the Victorian Government has announced plans to export more of the energy source.
It’s announced plans to cash in on the billions of tonnes of brown coal in the La Trobe Valley. The Energy Minister, Michael O’Brien, says a number of companies overseas are developing low emissions technology for brown coal power
generation.
But one environmental mining engineer says it’s a fanciful suggestion and there’s no evidence of clean, brown coal anywhere in the world…. http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3459690.htm
BHP, Rio Xstrata – no pain from Australia’s Mineral resources Rent Tax (and uranium is exempt)
Resources tax: what you may not know … SMH, Ian Verrender, March 20, 2012 Despite all the hullabaloo, all the hand-wringing and the wailing from various sections of the mining industry, the passage of the Mineral Resources Rent Tax overnight confirms Australia as one of the world’s most benign destinations for miners.
That’s right. When it comes to taxing resource companies, Australia is a soft touch, a virtual tax haven. Not that you will read that anywhere else. More than likely you will continue to be beaten about the head with dire predictions of
impending doom and threats of mass defections from our big mining houses……
almost every country with a resource base, rich and poor, has begun tightening the screws after witnessing in the past decade one of the greatest wealth transfers in history – away from the citizens who owned the minerals and towards the companies exploiting those resources.
It is a global trend that will make it increasingly tougher for the big resource houses to maintain their earnings growth, Continue reading
Australian government’s Energy White Paper deceitful on renewable energy data
The The Energy White Paper also backs nuclear power. Energy minister Martin Ferguson said as he launched the paper : “If we get to the end of this debate some years in the future, and we haven’t made the necessary breakthrough on clean energy at a low-cost outcome, then nuclear is there for Australia to buy off the shelf after a debate.”
Even more hypothetical is so-called “clean coal” (carbon capture) technology — but the paper relies on it for its future “clean energy” mix.
Activists blacklist energy white paper, Green Left , March 17, 2012, By Ben Courtice . Climate activists like Newcastle group Rising Tide have labelled December’s draft Energy White Paper (EWP), which charts the federal government’s plan for Australia’s future energy mix, a “black” paper. The group says the paper “plans to further expand fossil fuel extraction (both domestically and for exports) at the expense of renewable [energy]”.
The future for fossil fuels in the paper includes more than tripling coal exports. Australia is already the world’s largest coal exporter. The EWP refers to the “entirely new coal precinct opening up in Queensland’s Galilee Basin”…. Continue reading
BHP won’t pay a cent of Mineral Resources Rent Tax from Olympic Dam uranium mine profits
March 16, 2012 With copper, uranium, gold and silver not covered by the Mineral Resources Rent Tax, profits from biggest hole in the ground ever dug on the face of this planet, the Olympic Dam mine, will be excluded the Greens said.Greens Senator forSouth Australia, Senator Penny Wright, told the Senate last night, that while the tax was a first step towards more efficient taxation of the benefits of the mining boom, not a single cent derived from the Minerals Resources Rent Tax (MRRT) would come from the Olympic Dam mine.
“Olympic Dam is one of our largest mines and is expected to raise billions of dollars of profits from the copper, uranium, gold and silver mined there – yet not one of these minerals will be included in the MRRT,” Senator Wright said.
“The owners of this massive hole, BHP Billiton, are smiling all the way to the bank. Their deal with the South Australian Government locks in pitifully low royalty rates for 45 years, with no guarantees of one extra job in the state, and the government footing the bill for infrastructure. And Australians will not receive a cent from the mine under the MRRT.
“The net economic return toSouth Australiain years 10-20 of the project could be as low as $10m per year and that is even before millions are given back to BHP Billiton through federal subsidies like the diesel fuel rebate.
“But the real losers of this deal are our children and grandchildren – we are giving their resources away for a pittance while at the same time leaving them to deal with the enormous toxic legacy of managing the world’s largest radioactive waste dump.
“The Greens will ultimately support this tax, because in this case, something is better than nothing. But there is no doubt that this taxation regime needs to be strengthened so we can all get a fair return for our shared mineral wealth and invest it in things that will benefit all Australians like Denticare, the NDIS and quality public education.”
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 