Australia’s power companies campaign to undermine renewable energy
Power giants to hit out at renewables, Christine Milne warns, GRAHAM LLOYD, The Australian, September 08, 2011 THE electricity industry was planning a “massive assault” to undermine government policies to promote billions of dollars worth of investment in wind farms and other renewable energy technologies, Greens senator Christine Milne has warned.
Senator Milne’s comments to a renewable energy conference in Brisbane this week coincide with a fresh call by Origin Energy for the government to reconsider the timing of its target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020….
Calling on the renewable energy sector to speak out, Senator Milne said an electricity industry backlash threatened many of the so-called “complimentary measures” negotiated by the Greens to secure their support for the federal government’s carbon tax that will be introduced into federal parliament next week.This includes the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which is designed to kick start investment in alternative energy projects…..
Wind power is currently the lowest cost option for electricity companies to meet their obligations under the mandatory renewable energy target.
BHP, RIO, Xstrata try to control Australian govt on carbon tax
Rio Tinto warns Gillard over carbon tax, The Age, Peter Ker, September 8, 2011 MULTINATIONAL miner Rio Tinto has intensified its opposition to Australia’s carbon tax, urging Prime Minister Julia Gillard to go back to the drawing board and start again on carbon policy….Rio has previously claimed the tax would penalise trade-exposed industries and deter investment in resource projects, but yesterday Mr Peever stepped up the attack by urging the government not to proceed with the tax in its present form…….
Rio was one of three big mining companies – alongside BHP Billiton and Xstrata – invited by Ms Gillard to help shape Labor’s revised mining tax last year.
The government plans to introduce the carbon tax to Parliament next week, and Ms Gillard said its opponents would not stop the bill winning passage through the hung parliament. ”Everybody in the Parliament knows from the statements that have been made by parliamentarians that the legislation has sufficient support to get through and it will,” she said. ”I do expect, as we see constantly from the opposition, that we’ll see all sorts of wrecking tactics, but we will work our way through and ensure that the legislation does go through.”…..
Australia’s tax advisor advises in the interests of BHP Billiton
Former BHP chair renews carbon tax criticism – ABC Newcastle NSW – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 5 Sept 11, The former chairman of BHP Billiton, Don Argus, has criticised the Federal Government’s proposed carbon tax, saying it is not in the nation’s best interest..
…Mr Argus also questioned planned investment in renewable energy ……He says the Government should hold off on the [carbon] tax due to the current global financial uncertainty…..
.
Mr Argus says he is bemused that carbon capture storage has
been excluded from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation that was recently announced, as he thinks it will be a very worthwhile technology…..Mr Argus also warned the state and federal governments on the current debate over mining royalties.
Former BHP chair renews carbon tax criticism – ABC Newcastle NSW – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Organised climate change denial by some Conservative White Males in Australia
“organised climate change denial” had spread from US conservative think-tanks to other nations, including New Zealand and Australia……conservatives were unduly confident about their own views on climate change “also makes them less open to differing views or able to accept that they might be wrong”…..Only 38 per cent of Liberal-National politicians thought humans were causing global warming, compared to 89 per cent from Labor….
The CWM effect: What climate change’s biggest sceptics have in common, The Age, Graham Readfearn, August 18, 2011 (This article also shows pictures of Cardinal Pell, Andrew Bolt, Alan Jones, Christopher Monckton) When it comes to climate change, most people have heard of the greenhouse effect, but what about the “conservative white male” effect?
A US-based study has found that white men with politically conservative views are far more likely than the rest of the population to doubt the science of human-caused climate change.
And the “conservative white male effect” has been linked to Australia, with one prominent researcher citing the existence of a successful, politically engaged and outspoken coterie operating in high-profile positions that attract wide media coverage. Continue reading
Australia’s Liberal Party out to kill Renewable Energy – but what’s their alternative?
There must come a point where the nation’s Liberal leaders and aspiring leaders come clean on their plans for renewable energy. If it is not something they want to support then they should be ready to let us know what is their alternative.
New laws toss energy jobs to the wind, The Age,2 Sept 11, The nation is poorer for the Liberals’ stance on the ‘green-collar’ sector. IT IS a telling coincidence that Premier Ted Baillieu’s new anti-wind farm laws have been sharing the headlines with Australia’s manufacturing malaise. The Clean Energy Council estimates the laws will drive $3.6 billion of investment away from Victoria. Continue reading
No nuclear power for Western Australia – State government rules
Government rules out nuclear power for WA mines, Perth Now, AAP , August 30, 2011 THE WA government has rejected a call by mining giant Rio Tinto for it to consider using nuclear energy plants to supply some of the state’s future electricity needs. In submissions to the government’s peak energy advisory body, Rio asked why the option of nuclear power was not at least being canvassed.
But WA Energy Minister Peter Collier said there was simply no demand for nuclear energy in WA and it would not be used in the state in the next two decades.
`We have sufficient capacity through other fuel sources such as gas and coal and renewables,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
Opposition Leader Eric Ripper said there was no public support for nuclear power and Labor also would not support its introduction….http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/government-rules-out-nuclear-power-for-wa-mines/story-e6frg13u-1226125360975
A truly valuable legacy for Premier Mike Rann, to repeal South Australia’s unjust Indenture Act
the Indenture Act trumps all other SA legislation…..Over to you, Mr Rann − repealing the indefensible legal privileges in the current Indenture Act would be a good way to end your tenure as SA Premier.
Above the law: Olympic Dam’s legal privileges, Jim Green and Gavin Mudd, 27 Aug 11 Premier Mike Rann has done us a favour by insisting on concluding negotiations with BHP Billiton over the SA Roxby Downs Indenture Act before leaving office. It is by no means clear that the outcome will be
improved with Mr Rann’s involvement, but he has at least drawn attention to this remarkable legislation.
The Indenture Act governs the operations of the Olympic Dam copper/uranium mine. The legislation was controversial when it was enacted in 1982 and it is all the more inappropriate as the basis for the planned expansion of
the mine.
The Act provides BHP Billiton with the legal authority to override important state legislation including the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988,
the Environmental Protection Act 1993, the Freedom of Information Act
1991, the Natural Resources Act 2004 (including water management issues),
the Development Act 1993 and the Mining Act 1971. Continue reading
Australian federal government abdicating its role in environmental protection?
States get a bigger say on the environment, The Age, Tom Arup, August 25, 2011, THE Gillard government has rolled out a business-friendly overhaul of national environment laws, boosting the states’ role in approving or rejecting controversial new projects like pulp mills and mines…….
Under the reforms the Commonwealth will seek deals with the states that would mean most projects would need either state or federal environmental approval, not both….
Australian National University environmental legal expert Andrew Macintosh said yesterday the proposal had to ensure adequate protection of national environmental assets and ”leave an opening for the Commonwealth to intervene where the national interest is threatened by parochial state interests”.
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s Dr Paul Sinclair said delegating power to the states to approve projects would be a backwards step, adding “if business wants a one-stop shop, it must be a federal shop”..….
opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt. Mr Hunt yesterday welcomed the proposed reforms and said the Coalition was broadly supportive.
Greens environment spokeswoman Larissa Waters said she was disappointed the reforms did not include measures to consider a project’s carbon emissions and impact of water resources…http://www.theage.com.au/national/states-get-a-bigger-say-on-the-environment-20110824-1ja8n.html
Friends of the Earth write to South Australian politicians about Roxby Downs Indenture Act
exemptions from the Environmental Protection Act (1993) are of particular concern. The exclusion of this Act means that the Olympic Dam mine is not subject to the same environmental regulatory framework as other industrial projects in South Australia, and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which administers the Act, is excluded from its monitoring role. BHP’s environmental performance is instead the responsibility of the Minister for Mineral Resources Development, who, based on BHP’s own reports, has full discretion to approve or reject programmes for the management and rehabilitation of the environment, without any obligation to consult with other agencies. Given the Ministers role in promoting mining in SA, this arguably amounts to a conflict of interest.
Re: ROXBY DOWNS INDENTURE ACT
Dear
The Roxby Downs Indenture Act is currently the subject of negotiations between the SA Government and BHB Billiton, owner of the Olympic Dam copper/uranium mine. We expect that in the near future amendments will beintroduced into parliament extending the operation of the Act to the proposed Olympic Dam expansion.
Friends of the Earth is concerned that indefensible legal privileges in the Indenture Act will be retained in the context of the proposed mine expansion, including exemptions and overrides from the SA Aboriginal Heritage Act1988, the Environmental Protection Act 1993, the Freedom of Information Act 1991, and the Natural Resources Act 2004. Continue reading
Hypocrisy of Country Liberal Party in Northern Territory, over uranium mining.
Gloves off in Angela Pamela uranium mine scrap ABC News, Jane Bardon and Lucy McNally, 23 Aug 11, “…..The Country Liberals’ Robyn Lambley won the Araluen by-election last year while opposing development of the Angela Pamela uranium deposit after a backlash from Alice Springs residents.
The party has now changed its policy to say it will encourage all applications for uranium developments….
The Arid Land Environment Centre says neither party in the Territory can be trusted when it comes to the proposed Angela Pamela mine.
Opposition environment spokesman Peter Chandler took part in a debate in Alice Springs on the weekend and said the CLP would support a uranium mine there if it met environmental standards.
That prompted the Government to accuse the party of ignoring the community’s concerns on the issue.
Environment Centre spokesman Jimmy Cocking says a CLP government is more likely to approve a mine at the site, but he wouldn’t put it past the Labor party either.”In terms of policy outside of Angela Pamela they are both the same,” he said…http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-23/20110823angela-pamela-mine-scrap/2852248
Australia to pay high price if it dumps the carbon tax
The Australia Institute also argues that it could take until 2018 for the Coalition’s direct-action policy to fully come into effect and begin to reduce emissions, if dumping the carbon tax is held back until 2016.
‘As the length of time around the uncertainty [on carbon pricing] grows, so does the cost,” the report says.
Dumping carbon tax ‘could take five years’, The Age, Tom Arup, August 22, 2011, IT COULD take a Tony Abbott-led Coalition government until 2016 to axe Labor’s carbon tax if it is forced to go to a double dissolution election, left-leaning think tank the Australia Institute claims.
In a discussion paper to be released today, the institute argues the Coalition would have to work through several years of parliamentary process to build a double-dissolution election trigger to dump the carbon tax via a joint sitting of Parliament and replace it with its direct-action climate change policy.
The institute also says the lengthy political fight would result in significant uncertainty for industry in making investment decisions, pushing up costs especially in the electricity sector. Continue reading
Independent MP Tony Windsor urges Australia to fund research into solar energy
AUDIO . http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3293145.htm Windsor backs renewable energy future, ABC Radio AM Ashley Hall reported this story on 16 Aug 11 “….TONY WINDSOR: What’s happening in these other countries is that there is basically a consensus that something has to be done. Let’s formulate the best way of getting there. Let’s take some risks in terms of research. Let’s engage with the corporates and the scientists and get people working towards a new future and I think it is terribly exciting…..
(solar tower – Seville, Spain)
Liberal and Labor politicians lobbying for Marathon uranium company
Marathon calls in political heavyweights for Arkaroola compo fight, Adelaide Now, Russell Emmerson ,August 15, 2011 EMBATTLED uranium explorer Marathon Resources now has five former MPs arguing its Arkaroola compo case. It has three former federal Labor ministers, one former federal Liberal minister and a former state Liberal MP associated with it as lobbyists or sitting on its board.
The company announced last week it was hiring commercial law firms Kelly & Co and Arnold Bloch Liebler – which has previously represented James Hardie, VISY Group and Patrick Group – to explore “options” after the State Government announced it was banning all mining in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in July.
But while it declared its legal moves to the market, Marathon has also upped its activity in the professional lobbying arena. It has retained ALP lobbyist John Quirke since at least December 2009 but has added two more voices to its coterie since the State Government announced its ban.
Former state Liberal MP Graham Gunn declared he was representing Marathon Resources in late July and Bespoke Approach – comprising ALP heavyweight Nick Bolkus, Liberal heavyweight Alexander Downer and Ian Smith – declared its interest last week.
Former federal ALP minister Chris Schact sits on the Marathon board as a director but does not represent the company as a lobbyist. The state’s Lobbyist Code defines a lobbyist as a person lobbying on behalf of a third party client. As a director of Marathon Resources, Mr Schact does not fall within the definition…..http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/marathon-calls-in-political-heavyweights-for-arkaroola-compo-fight/story-e6frede3-1226114793615
BHP and Mike Rann in a hurry to change laws to allow Olympic Dam uranium mine expansion
Just 10 weeks to seal Dam deal, Adelaide Now Sarah Martin August 09, 2011 “…..The insistence of the Premier to stay until the new indenture act is signed off has prompted concern from the Opposition and minor parties that the “whip hand” has been handed to BHP Billiton.
The company yesterday remained tight-lipped on the dealings for the legislation required for the $30 billion expansion
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/just-10-weeks-to-seal-dam-deal/story-fn6bqvxz-1226111312201
BHP Billiton is earmarking nearly $10 billion of a planned $80 billion capital-spending spree over the next five years to expand iron ore and coal mining in Australia but has yet to allocate funding for Olympic Dam…..
Our focus continues to be to… finalise indenture negotiations,” BHP Billiton spokeswoman Kelly Quirke said. The indenture negotiations refer to proposed amendments to legislation in the Roxby Downs township where the mine is located to allow expansion work to commence
BHP Olympic Dam expansion linked to outgoing politician SYDNEY Aug 8 (Reuters) – An Australian politician who has played a key role in developing BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine and is now under pressure to step down has vowed to stay on until Oct. 20 to finalise an expansion of the mine, suggesting talks may be nearing an end. Continue reading
Uranium mining company fights on, – environment is irrelevant?
Miner prepares to fight Arkaroola ban, Adelaide Now, Business Reporter Russell Emmerson, August 10, 2011, MARATHON Resources is preparing for a fight over the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.The company said yesterday it had retained two top commercial law firms and senior counsel in South Australia and interstate to advise Marathon on its options relating to its Mt Gee uranium tenement and the loss of its right to explore and mine in the Sanctuary.
Premier Mike Rann late last month banned mining in Arkaroola despite Marathon holding an exploration licence for what it believes is Australia’s fifth-largest undeveloped uranium reserve.
Marathon Resources chairman Peter Williams yesterday said the company would decide its next move after seeking the advice…..
While the State Government may not have a legal obligation to compensate Marathon for its expenditure, it is likely to offer an “ex gratia” payment for political purposes.
It paid the three bidders for the State Government’s cancelled $557 million prisons project at Mobilong $3.5 million each in “good faith” to avoid being seen as a political risk and is likely to do more here to protect the state’s “pro-mining” reputation… http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/miner-prepares-to-fight-arkaroola-ban/story-fn6bqvxz-1226112001383
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 