Bob Brown, possibly Australian government’s only sane member, wants scrutiny about USA military bases
Brown wants debate on rumoured US expansion, ABC News 12 Nov 11 Australian Greens leader Bob Brown wants the Federal Parliament to debate the prospect of the United States expanding its military presence in Australia. The White House has refused to confirm reports a deal has been made increasing American access to Australian army bases.
There is speculation an announcement may be made when the US president Barack Obama visits Darwin next week.
The reports say Australia and the US have been working on plans for increased cooperation, including bringing in more US troops to strategic areas including Darwin, as well as increasing the number of joint exercises and training.
Senator Brown says the Australian Parliament has an obligation to debate the pros and cons.”We are putting a clear point of view that Parliament should debate new foreign troop placements in Australia, whether they be in Darwin or Western Australia or anywhere else and that of course is responsible democracy,” he said.
But the Prime Minister Julia Gillard has refused to be drawn on the reports…..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-12/brown-wants-debate-on-rumoured-us-military-boost/3662698
Martin Ferguson’s conflict of interest on renewable energy, and attack on Greens
Yes, it’s an awful shame that Australia has a Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism – when there is clearly a conflict of interest in that role
Martin Ferguson has chosen to effectively be Australia’s Minister For Nuclear Power, and Fossil Fuels – sure – they are forms of energy. It’s just a pity that these are in direct conflict with renewable energy, and tourism, for which Ferguson is also responsible. He has a firm grip on disseminatng information to downgrade renewable s, even to having his own stooge representing Australia at IRENA. – C.M.
Ferguson slams Greens on renewable energy, Business Spectator , 11 Nov 2011 The Greens push for Australia to abandon non-renewable energy sources within a decade has prompted Energy Minister Martin Ferguson to say the party is “living in fantasy land” in comments that risk further escalating rifts between Labor and the Greens, according to a report by The Australian.
Mr Ferguson said the Greens’ push to abandon non-renewable energy sources will not be achievable so long as renewable energy is more expensive than traditional energy sources.
“It is time the Greens stopped deliberately misleading the Australian public with their claims that Australia can move to 100 per cent renewable energy within a decade,” Mr Ferguson said, according to The Australian.
“They are living in fantasy land if they think this can be achieved.” The Greens have declared that the federal government’s $23-a-tonne carbon tax, passed by the Senate on Tuesday, does not go far enough on moving towards renewable energy, the newspaper added. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Ferguson-slams-Greens-on-renewable-energy-pd20111110-NGRE4?opendocument&src=rss
Australia might block investment in nuclear weapons, including in Future Fund
Australia to Weigh Powers for Blocking Nuke Investments NTI Global Security Newswire, Nov. 10, 2011 Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith has requested a formal opinion on whether he wields authority under existing statutes to bar the possession of financial stakes in firms involved in nuclear weapons activities, The Australiannewspaper reported on Thursday (see GSN, Oct. 17).
Smith instructed William Blick, a former inspector-general of intelligence and security, to determine “whether the investment of funds in companies that develop, produce, acquire or stockpile weapons of mass destruction should be controlled” by the Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act. Canberra has tapped the law in five instances over roughly the last two years to prevent transfers of items with possible WMD applications to Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries including Iran (see GSN, April 5, 2010).
The law’s potential use to prohibit financial interests in nuclear weapon-linked firms might affect a pension fund for Australian government retirees. Australia’s “Future Fund” had $137.7 million in holdings in 15 such companies, including Boeing, EADS, Honeywell and Northrop Grumman, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Sean Parnell, THE AUSTRALIAN, Nov. 10).http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20111110_7447.php
Olympic Dam “Every word of the agreement favours BHP, not South Australians” – Liberal MP
Opposition industry spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith joined the criticism of the deal struck with BHP Billiton. Mr Hamilton-Smith said, “Every word of the agreement favours BHP, not South Australians.”
Greens turn new Premier Jay Weatherill blue, The Advertiser, Sarah Martin , November 10, 2011 “……Mr Parnell agreed that the Greens did not support any expansion of uranium mining in Australia, and argued the mine could be viable without uranium exploration. Continue reading
Uranium: Greens are asking some critical questions about BHP’s Roxby Downs Indenture Bill
Greens put forward 100 amendments to gridlock mine’s $525 million, by:Sarah Martin, The Advertiser, November 09, 2011 Greens MLC Mark Parnell said his minority party was “not going to be cut short and stopped from asking the questions that need to be asked”, …. BHP says the revised Indenture Act needs to pass Parliament before the end of the year to trigger spending on preparatory work for the mine…. the Bill’s passage could be delayed until Parliament resumes in February next year…..
- WHAT THE GREENS WANT TO KNOW
1. ROYALITIES
Why did the Government lock in a royalty regime for 45 years, and why is it based exclusively on old-style production-based royalties, rather than one that captures a fair share of mining profits?
2. ECONOMIC RETURN
How good an economic deal did SA receive when BHP CEO Marius Kloppers is claiming to his shareholders that the Olympic Dam Expansion will be low cost and highly profitable?
3. PROCESSING IN SA RATHER THAN CHINA
How many South Australian jobs will be lost by not requiring BHP to process our ore here in South Australia rather than exporting it to China?
4. EXEMPTION FROM SA LAWS
Why is BHP exempt from over 20 South Australian laws that every other mining company in SA has to comply with?
5. NO URANIUM OPTION
Why wasnt a No Uranium Roxby Expansion considered when we know it is not only technically feasible, it would also mean less water and energy use and more jobs as the processing would be done here in SA, rather than in China?
6. GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN
Why isn’t there a plan to wean BHP off using 42ML/day of ancient water from the Great Artesian Basin, when they plan double that volume in excess capacity (80ML/day) from their desalination plant?
7. DESALINATION PLANT & CUTTLEFISH RISK
Why is the Government prepared to risk the breeding grounds of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish by not requiring the company to build in a different location?
8. RADIOACTIVE LEAKAGE FROM TAILINGS DAM
How can the Government claim that they have met their public commitment for the expansion to meet worlds best environmental practice when only 4 per cent of the tailings dams will be lined and the dams are designed to leak up to 8 million litres of toxic radioactive waste liquid/day?
9. RESPONSIBILITY POST MINE CLOSURE
Who will ultimately be responsible to manage the open pit, tailings dams and rock waste pile for the 10,000 years after the operations cease that the radioactive risk remains: the company or SA taxpayers, and how much will that management cost?
10. GREENHOUSE POLLUTION & RENEWABLE ENERGY
Why isn’t the company committing to any investment in cleaner energy to meet their whopping 650 MW electricity demand beyond the 57MW commitment for powering the desal plant (less than 10 per cent of total demand) to reduce their enormous increase in the states greenhouse pollution of 12-15 per cent?
Liberals kow tow to BHP ‘s poor deal for South Australia in Roxby Downs Indenture Bill
Roxby Spin vs Reality as Libs Roll-over:
1) EPA not fully independent
2) No guarantee of extra processing on site
Greens Leader Mark Parnell has accused the Liberals of ducking responsibility over the Roxby approval Bill, as more details emerge that undermine confidence in the deal signed between the Government and BHP Billiton. “The Liberals claim they could have got a better deal. Well, they still can,” said Greens Parliamentary Leader Mark Parnell.
“It is not too late for the Parliament of South Australia to insist on a much better deal for our State. We can and should amend the legislation to ratify the Roxby expansion currently before Parliament. “To roll over and pass the Roxby Indenture Bill unchanged will miss a once in a generation opportunity to get this right,” he said.
The call comes as more gaps emerge in the Government’s claims over the Roxby expansion. “The Government claims the EPA will be fully independent. Yet with this Indenture the EPA will still be operating with one hand tied behind its back,” said Mr Parnell.
“Also the Government has talked up the potential to double processing on site at Roxby Downs to 350,000 tonnes of refined copper. Yet this is not a condition in the approval and there is nothing to stop BHP Billiton ignoring that commitment in the future and export all the ore from the expansion and jobs to China. “And this is on top of locking in a ridiculously low royalty rate for the next 45 years.
“The closer we look, the more concerned we are at the very poor deal the State Government has signed on behalf of all South Australians,” he said.
Australia’s carbon tax becomes law
Finally, carbon tax becomes law, The Labor government has finally got its carbon price plan through the Senate — on a vote of 36 to 32. The Age, Michelle Grattan November 8, 2011
The carbon price begins with a tax, starting next July and will move later to a trading scheme. The issue has dogged Labor, contributing to Kevin Rudd’s fall from the leadership, after he backed off on his emission trading scheme, delaying it when he could not get it through the Senate.
‘‘The Gillard government has today secured a clean energy future for all Australians,’’ Ms Gillard said.
Senator Brown said it was ‘‘a green-letter day that will echo down the ages’’. He said the debate on the legislation was over. ‘‘There will be no rescission of this legislation,’’ he said. Mr Abbott has promised he will scrap the legislation.
Finance Minister Penny Wong told Parliament: ‘‘Today we deliver. This is a reform for our children. Today marks the beginning of Australia’s clean future’’. Later she said the issue had been ‘‘a reminder of how hard reform can be’’ and thanked those who had campaigned through difficult times… : http://www.smh.com.au/environment/finally-carbon-tax-becomes-law-20111108-1n4rq.html#ixzz1dAdTELxy
Surprise, surprise, Liberal Party backs BHP’s massive new uranium mine
Opposition to back Olympic Dam mine expansion bill ABC News 8 Nov The Olympic Dam mine expansion legislation is almost certain to pass the South Australian Parliament before Christmas after winning the Opposition’s backing. The SA Liberal Party has met and decided to support the legislation for BHP Billiton to turn Olympic Dam near Roxby Downs into the world’s biggest open cut copper, gold and uranium mine.
The Opposition has decided it will allow the legislation to pass without amendment or delay. Liberal leader Isobel Redmond says her party’s support for the bill will give BHP Billiton certainty.
“There are things that maybe could have been better for the state but with the economic circumstances, with the massive debt, we felt that economically we could not afford for this project not to go ahead,” she said…..
The Minister says there is an option for Parliament to sit an extra week if needed to get the bill through.
SA Greens leader Mark Parnell says it is no surprise the Liberals have given the legislation their support. He says the Greens will ensure the tough questions are asked. “What we have to remember is that it is the biggest industrial project in South Australian history,” he said. “It’s going to be the biggest hole in the ground on the face of the planet and I think the people of South Australia expect their members of parliament to give this project very thorough scrutiny.”
BHP Billiton is to make a final decision on the multi-billion-dollar expansion early next year…http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-08/liberals-olympic-dam-legislation-mine/3651486/?site=newcastle
Gillard, Rudd, Obama – talks on uranium to India (as well as nuke waste to Australia)?
Could Gillard and Rudd be set for a nuclear fusion? The Age, Michelle Grattan, November 6, 2011 , JULIA GILLARD and Barack Obama are having plenty of time together. They’ve been at the G20; the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum is coming up in a few days, followed by the President’s visit to Australia and then the East Asia Summit. Somewhere along the way, you’d think they would find time to discuss a big issue on which their two countries disagree – selling uranium to India.
This question is very live in the ALP just now. If the Australian government wants the option of lifting its ban on uranium sales to India in the next two years, it needs to change party policy at the December ALP national conference.
There is considerable support for a policy change. Resources Minister
Martin Ferguson wants it. On the union side, so 
does Australian Workers’ Union boss Paul Howes. As he departed the South Australian premiership last month, Mike Rann declared it was ”probably time to have a rethink on that in terms of the very strict standards that India is now prepared to sign up to”.
Gillard, having committed herself to party reform, will have to say how far she wants to go in this area. Add uranium sales to India and that is quite a bit of potential conflict to manage.
One thing is certain. Any push for change would have to involve Gillard and Rudd standing shoulder to shoulder – just like those other rivals, Hayden and Hawke, did at the 1982 ALP conference…..Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/could-gillard-and-rudd-be-set-for-a-nuclear-fusion-20111105-1n0v5.html#ixzz1d4JgOuFF
Kevin Rudd, the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, and the push to sell uranium to India
Could Gillard and Rudd be set for a nuclear fusion?, The Age, Michelle Grattan, November 6, 2011 “……Rudd is said by some to be open to the idea [of selling uranium to India] . But he and others in the government have been annoyed at India’s attempts to put pressure on Australia through the media. He recently pointed out, with considerable sharpness, that in terms of supply India didn’t need Australian uranium.
Indeed, the more India makes a public fuss, the harder it is for the government to change policy without appearing to have simply capitulated to its pressure. Rudd and others have also put much emphasis on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. To drop the requirement that our uranium goes only to signatories is difficult, though not impossible, to explain and justify….
Secretive and inadequate plan for Toro Energy’s uranium mining project at Wiluna, Western Australia
Toro Energy acknowledges that it has not fully verified the accuracy or completeness of its own application, and does not accept responsibility or liability for its application.….A mining agreement with Traditional Owners has not yet been negotiated…Uranium mining and tailings disposal in this region would occur below the water-table and be connected to aquatic ecosystems. There is a risk of contaminating the aquatic ecosystems….The mine rehabilitation plans are incomplete and Toro Energy’s preliminary costing for rehabilitation is being kept secret.
Submission to the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia on behalf of the Conservation Council of WA, the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Wilderness Society and the Anti Nuclear Alliance of WA. This submission was prepared with the help and advice from Dr Jim Green, Dr Gavin Mudd and Dr Nic Dunlop.
re: Toro Energy Ltd Wiluna uranium project Environmental Review and Management Programme (ERMP) Wiluna ERMP Submission_Final.doc
Australian uranium mines have a history of leaks, safety breaches and failed rehabilitation. Accordingly a 2004 report by a Senate References and Legislation Committee found “a pattern of under-performance and non-compliance” in the uranium mining industry and identified many gaps in knowledge. To date, not a single uranium mine in Australia has been rehabilitated to the point that radiological conditions are stable and ongoing monitoring is no longer required.
The history of the wider mining sector in WA has also been problematic as detailed in a recent Auditor General’s report . Continue reading
People power effective against New South Wales government plan to dump radioactive waste on Kemps Creek
People power stops Kemps Creek toxic waste plan Liverpool Leader, 1 Nov 11 RADIOACTIVE waste will not be dumped on Kemps Creek following an outpouring of community anger. The state government announced on Monday that more than 5000 tonnes of radioactive material will now be treated on-site by a federal agency at Hunters Hill before it will be removed.
Previous coverage: Kemps Creek dumping ground for radioactive waste
It ends a week of speculation after Finance Minister Greg Pearce agreed there were “no alternative waste sites in NSW”, during budget estimate hearings. Angry that the material from the former Hunters Hill uranium smelter seemed destined to be dumped at the SITA Environmental Solutions site, Kemps Creek residents last week kicked off a campaign to get a 10,000 signature petition to be debated in Parliament…. http://liverpool-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/heated-local-reaction/
Olympic Dam – A detailed submission to the Roxby Downs Indenture Bill committee
SUBMISSION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE. NECTARIA CALAN, Friends of the Earth Adelaidc /- Conservation Council of SA
Level 1, 157 Franklin Street, Adelaide SA 5000 Contact: blackwallaby@gmail.com, 26 October 2011
Re: Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) (Amendment of Indenture) Amendment Bill 2011
I ask the Committee to revisit the issue of consultation, in regards to the approval of the Olympic Dam
expansion as set out in Clause 11(3) which ratifies and approves the amendments to the Indenture. Continue reading
South Australia’s Olympic Dam Indenture scrutiny – a token effort, just for show?
Weatherill happy to widen Olympic Dam mine bill scrutiny, ABC News October 28, 2011 South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says he would be happy for groups opposed to the planned Olympic Dam mining expansion to put evidence to a special parliamentary committee.
It sat on Thursday to examine legislation which will enact the Olympic Dam indenture. The Greens say they managed to get the proceedings opened to the public, but said the committee was a farce because the three witnesses who appeared were all in favour of the mining expansion near outback Roxby Downs in South Australia.
Mr Weatherill said he would not be opposed to other groups having a say.”That’s a matter for the committee but I think we want to make this an open process as we can,” he said….
Greens leader Mark Parnell was upset the only parties invited before the parliamentary inquiry were proponents of the expansion; BHP Billiton, the Chamber of Mines and the Olympic Dam task force. He accused the SA Government and Opposition of colluding to make sure the committee only heard from those who favoured the mining project.
After the hearing, the Greens said BHP Billiton had been given an easy ride. Mr Parnell says it was a one-sided affair with little real scrutiny.
“The questions asked of BHP Billiton were about as soft as they get,” he said. “This is a multi-billion-dollar project that will go for 100 years or more and a lot of the committee’s time was wasted talking about boggy roads and grey nomads.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-27/conservationists-to-testify-over-olympic-mine/3604936
Pressure on Kevin Rudd to join Australia’s nuclear marketing men
Rudd targeted in push to sell uranium to India, The Age, Michelle Grattan, October 28, 2011 PRESSURE is
mounting on Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to join the strong push to change ALP policy to allow uranium sales to India. The uranium debate is shaping up as a major issue for the December ALP national conference, with Resources Minister Martin Ferguson urging a change of policy……
Last night, Australian Workers Union chief Paul Howes backed change, saying if there was a debate at the national conference, he would argue for sales to India… Mr Ferguson and Mr Rudd yesterday appeared together at a mining breakfast in Perth….
Mr Rudd is in a difficult position on the issue because of his strong support for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty…..
Mr Howes said … the non-proliferation treaty was a ”rubbish treaty’
‘…….Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/rudd-targeted-in-push-to-sell-uranium-to-india-20111027-1mm30.html#ixzz1c79oexS4
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 