Poll shows Australians rate solar energy tops, and nuclear energy bottom
Solar power tops poll of positive perceptions, The Age, Michelle Grattan, October 10, 2011 SOLAR energy has a very positive rating in the public’s mind, while the nuclear industry and coal-fired power stations are at the bottom when people are asked about their perceptions of energy industries……
A UMR survey last month found more than eight in 10 people had a positive view of solar energy; only 10 per cent were negative. Three-quarters were positive on renewable energy. The gas industry also scored positively (61 per cent), but those rating the coal industry favourably outstripped those seeing it negatively relatively narrowly (45-38 per cent). People were equally divided about the oil industry (42 per cent each).
Only 36 per cent viewed the coal seam gas industry in a good light, compared with 41 per cent who were negative. Coal-fired power stations, which have copped bad publicity in the carbon debate, were seen negatively by almost half (48 per cent) accompanied by 34 per cent who had a benign view. The nuclear industry scored 51 per cent negative and 33 per cent positive in the online survey of a nationally representative sample of 1000…… Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/business/solar-power-tops-poll-of-positive-perceptions-20111009-1lfoh.html#ixzz1aQmXRcmj
Victoria’s Baillieu government hands out coal mining leases on coastal and agricultural land
So who is benefiting from the Baillieu government’s assault on the environment?
Big Mining. In spades….
Hundreds of brown coal mining leases have now been issued by this government for the very areas out of bounds to wind farms — coastal regions and areas of significant environment value….Oh, and Victoria’s prime agricultural land,
.. The overriding advantage of wind farms is that agricultural production or grazing can continue unimpeded. Open-cut coal mines can never be converted to agricultural land and coal seam gas wells are notorious for leaking toxic chemicals into aquifers…..
How ‘Red’ Ted Baillieu hoodwinked Victorian voters, Independent Australia, Sandi Keane, 7 Oct 11 It’s hard to know where to start on the transformation of Ted Baillieu from the champion of small-l liberalism to the worst environment Premier on record. Conservative politics these days displays little conscience about robbing future generations of their heritage…..
cattle are OK in National Parks but not so wind farms. Draconian new legislation, Amendment VC82, prohibits wind farms from being constructed in National Parks, near the coast or any area thought to have “environmental value”.
The earlier Amendment VC78 by the Baillieu government already gave local councils the power to reject wind farms. Interestingly, if you read through the legislation, you’ll see that the designated “no go” zones for wind farms are the very same areas of the state singled out by the Landscape Guardians whose agenda appears to be stopping wind farms from replacing coal fired power. For more facts on the Guardian’s phony health claims, their links to the mining industry and the climate skeptics in the Liberal Party, read here. Continue reading
Australia’s Greenhouse Mafia lobbying hard to undermine Clean Energy Finance Corporation
The hardest thing is that the big polluters are working to stop the CEF being passed and at the same time, actively lobbying to turn it into more compensation, undermining the carbon price……. to divert funding from genuine energy efficiency merit to be used as “compensation” for big polluters who do not want to actually pay a price on carbon. For some people, too much pork is barely enough!
I am keen to see the whole $1.2 billion of the CTP invested in good programs and believe it will be. It is certainly possible for ambitious investments to be made through an unambitious funding scheme….
Australia’s $1.2 Billion Clean Technology Program, Renewable Energy World, By Dan Cass , October 6, 2011 When the Labor Government, Greens and independents pass the Clean Energy Future (CEF) package later this year, there will be more than $13.2 billion on the table for renewables and low-carbon investment. Continue reading
How Australia’s Liberal Party plans to help corporations overcome environmental regulations
Under this Liberal National Party plan, a nuclear obsessed government such as South Australia’s, could make environmental decisions that really affect the whole country – C.M.
Coalition’s Greg Hunt to create one-stop approval, BY:SID MAHER , THE AUSTRALIAN, October 01, 2011 GOVERNMENT environmental approval processes will be streamlined and consent will be deemed to have been granted if deadlines are not met under a Coalition policy aimed at lifting productivity and attracting investment.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt plans changes, to be unveiled this weekend, to simplify federal environment laws and regulations to allow a “one-stop shop” approach to major environmental approvals.
“We absolutely want to radically decrease costs, delays and uncertainties in the approvals process,” Mr Hunt said….
Under the plan, states and territories will be able to act as a one-stop shop for all environmental approvals. In the case of major projects, such as offshore assessments, the states could hand their approvals to the commonwealth as the sole designated assessor….
Mr Hunt said the incentive for participation by individual states would be “competitive federalism”, with states that choose to participate having a “significant advantage”.
Australian govt’s corporate welfare to the Big Non Australian BHP Billiton
“The fuel tax credits effectively act as a massive subsidy for BHP Billiton, begging the questions as to why the Federal Government is subsidising one of the largest mining companies in the world.” said Nectaria Calan of Friends of the Earth Adelaide.
Once known as the “Big Australian,” BHP is now 76 per cent foreign owned, so whilst the Federal Government is funneling taxpayers money into the company, the vast majority of its profits will end up overseas.
BHP Billiton – record profits and still on corporate welfare, 30 Sept 11 The Olympic Dam Expansion Draft Environmental Impact Statement states that the proposed new mine will require 346 million litres of diesel per year in its initial development stage, 394 million litres per year in the intermediate stage, and over 490 million litres per year at full production. This is in addition to the 26 million litres per year currently used at the mine.
Under current fuel tax credit rates, BHP stands to gain $128 million per year in diesel rebates in the initial development period of the mine, $144 million per year in the intermediate stage, and $178 million per year at full production. Continue reading
Victoria’s Baillieu Liberal government kills off community wind farm plans
As of last month, the project is on hold, possibly dead, after the Baillieu government introduced Australia’s most restrictive wind farm regulations.
Libs sweep wind from turbine sails, The Age, Adam Morton. September 24, 2011 — Nearly four years ago, a small group of Woodend residents hatched a plan to power the historic town entirely on renewable energy. Three wind turbines would be built in a pine forest six kilometres south of the town to generate enough energy to run not only Woodend, but also nearby Macedon, Mount Macedon and Newham.
Wind speeds were modelled to determine the best location, community forums held, more than 500 signatures collected in support, and initial steps taken to start raising the $14 million needed. A smaller number of people expressed objections. Continue reading
Australia gets Tea Party style anti carbon tax movement
The ABC’s Hungry Beast featured him as one arm of a very corrupt and conspiratorial octopus, in a report on US
billionaires David and Charles Koch earlier this year.
But Andrews’ latest project, Stop Gillard’s Carbon Tax, is his most successful yet
Meet the man behind the anti-carbon tax lobby, RACHEL HILLS, 17TH SEPTEMBER 2011 The Spectator The New York Times dubbed it a ‘tempest with echoes of a tea party.’ Julia Gillard has called it the ‘Americanisation’ of Australian politics. Others say it’s just the latest iteration of the city-rural divide that saw the rise of One Nation in the 1990s, and the ‘Joh for Canberra’ revolt that thwarted John Howard’s ambitions in the 1980s.
For Tim Andrews, one of the masterminds behind the anti-carbon tax protests that have Labor’s hold on government on tenterhooks, it’s the start of something bigger: the rise of an activist centre-right with the potential to revolutionise Australian politics the same way the Tea Party has in the United States. Continue reading
Why there are only a few claims to Australian government from nuclear veterans
– “John” comments on Adelaide Now, 23 Sept 11 Mr Snowdon said “the Department of Veterans Affairs had received claims from a small number of personnel not currently eligible for compensation and health care from their participation in the British nuclear test program” Small number, because like my Grandfather who was there, they have passed away due to some form of cancer..If you stall long enough neither the British or the Australian governments will need to pay a dollar in compensation 57 plus years is a long time to admit you were at fault.
South Australia’s Liberal Party says nuclear power uneconomic, goes for gas and trigeneration
South Australian Liberals to look at trigeneration power, VERITY EDWARDS, The Australian, September 23, 2011 SOUTH Australian Opposition leader Isobel Redmond has committed a future Liberal government to investigating trigeneration power, despite concerns about its cost and reliability.
Delivering a headland speech to the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce in Adelaide, Ms Redmond yesterday criticised the introduction of a carbon tax and price as “economically insane”, described nuclear power as uneconomical and said gas would be the state’s logical source of future energy.
“If elected, a Redmond Liberal government will conduct a feasibility study into a trigeneration network in Adelaide,” Ms Redmond told the lunch. Gas-fired trigeneration plants produce electricity and harness the heating and cooling by-products for use within buildings.
The City of Sydney last year announced it wanted to establish a network of trigeneration plants capable of generating 330MW of electricity by 2030, or up to 70 per cent of Sydney’s needs….http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/south-australian-liberals-to-look-at-trigeneration-power/story-e6frgczx-1226144067671
Stawell, Victoria, calls for political action for renewable energy
“We’re keen to see as much of that funding go to renewables and energy efficiency as possible and not polluting energy sources such as fossil gas and clean coal.”…
The group is calling on Federal Member for Mallee John Forrest to get behind the renewable energy elements of this package.
Climate group supports legislation for funding, The Stawell Times News, MICHELLE DELISLE 16 Sep, 2011 STAWELL – Stawell Climate Action Group welcomes the renewable energy commitments delivered by the carbon price package and is calling for them to be rolled out as soon as possible.
“There is $10 billion of new funding for renewable energy over five years which is a great result for Australia and for the Wimmera,” said Julie Andrew, Stawell Climate Action group spokesperson.
“We’re keen to see as much of that funding go to renewables and energy efficiency as possible and not polluting energy sources such as fossil gas and clean coal.” Continue reading
Australian government’s deceitful pretense that N.T. nuclear waste dump is for medical wastes
“The claim that a waste facility is required to support nuclear medicine is mischievous scare-mongering,”
Muckaty dump justification ‘nonsense, Channel 9 TV News 12 sept 11 A nuclear expert has taken aim at claims a planned waste dump in remote Australia is needed to house low level radioactive waste from hospitals.
Speaking ahead of a Senate debate this week on the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill, Dr Peter Karamoskos was critical of plans for the proposed dump. He said most radioactive isotopes generated from nuclear medicine were designated as “very low level” waste, which decayed to safe levels with in a few days to a few weeks. Continue reading
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
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.
.
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
Antinuclear 