Independent Senator Nick Xenophon urges Senate to delay vote on nuclear waste dump
Senator Xenophon says the issue is live before the courts and cannot be ignored.
“The Senate should wait until the Federal Court has made its findings as to whether those who claim to be the owners of Muckaty Station, who volunteered the site, are the correct parties to do so,” he said.
Muckaty nuclear dump bill likely to pass Senate, ABC News 14 June 11 Laws to set up a nuclear waste storage facility in the Northern Territory are likely to be approved by the Senate this week, despite calls from senators for the debate to be put on hold. Continue reading
Uranium companies exempt from Australia’s Minerals and Resources Rent Tax
the enormous deductions that BHP, Rio and Xstrata will enjoy…The proposed MRRT was borne out of private consultations between the government and mining giants BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata. It was then fleshed out by a government advisory group known as the policy transition group, chaired by former BHP chairman Don Argus…
…BHP’s expanding Olympic Dam project in South Australia is also excluded from the MRRT. This is a project with the world’s largest uranium deposit, fourth-largest copper deposit and fifth-largest gold deposit…….
Mining tax a mystery tour,Sydney Morning Herald, June 13, 2011 “……After the savage battle with the miners reached boiling point 12 months ago, when mining companies spent more than $20 million on an anti-mining-tax advertising campaign, many believed the worst of the hostilities had finished… Continue reading
Australian Greens point out the long term value of renewable energy incentives
“The commission has, however, fallen into the trap of only measuring the effectiveness of policies in terms of how much they cut pollution in the short term, ignoring the fact that many of these are very effective industry development policies designed to transform the economy over the long term.”
The Greens are determined to ensure that, alongside a price on pollution, we put in place well-designed policies and funding streams to create a flourishing industry and start building here in Australia the kind of industrial-scale baseload solar power stations that are operational right now in Europe and America.
Party keeps renewable rebates on agenda, THE AUSTRALIAN, Sid Maher and Joe Kelly , June 10, 2011 THE Greens vow to push on with demands for renewable energy subsidies, despite the Productivity Commission finding they have raised the cost of emissions reductions for little gain. Continue reading
Martin Ferguson touts Radiation Register – but half of Australia’s uranium workers are not included
National radiation register for workers Sydney Morning Herald, June 9, 2011For the first time, workers in the uranium industry will have their exposure to radiation recorded on a national database, the federal government has announced.
Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson announced the Australian National Dose Register on Thursday at an International Uranium Conference in Perth……..http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/national-radiation-register-for-workers-20110609-1fu4a.html
Radiation dose register fails Northern Territory, Andrea Hayward May 31, 2011 Sydney Morning Herald Half of Australia’s uranium mine workers have been left off the National Radiation Dose Register, a Senate hearing has heard.
Australian Greens senator Scott Ludlam said it was revealed in Senate estimates that workers at uranium mines in the Northern Territory had not been included on the register.
The workers account for half of those working in the uranium industry….. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/radiation-dose-register-fails-nt-20110531-1fega.html
Australian govt energy policy results in drop in renewable energy investment
Australia Drops In Renewable Energy Attractiveness Rankings (Again), Renewable Energy News,by Energy Matters, 9 June 11 The latest Ernst & Young Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices have seen Australia drop in ranking for the second time this year……Ernst & Young says Australia’s latest decreased ranking was due to a reduction in Government spending on renewable energy by AU$1.8b. The major cut to clean energy spending will reduce investment demand for wind power in Australia says the company, which has fallen four points in the wind index.
Australia also lost two points in the solar index after the Government announced plans to reduce the Solar Flagships Program by AU$250m and the capping of the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme that provides incentives for solar hot water systems, saving AU$160m…….http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=1561
Martin Ferguson gives ultimatum on solar energy
Feds give states ultimatum on solar, SMH Josh Jerga, June 10, 2011 Federal Energy Minister Martin Ferguson will tell his state counterparts they can either have a national solar feed-in tariff scheme or a renewable energy target, but they can’t have both.
At the Ministerial Council on Energy meeting in Perth on Friday, a plan for a national solar feed-in tariff is expected to be on the table, with West Australian Energy Minister Peter Collier backing the move.
Mr Collier has said the current situation is a “balls-up” with each state having a different feed-in tariff system and there was merit in introducing uniformity…http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/feds-give-states-ultimatum-on-solar-20110610-1fvx7.html
South Australia’s Legislative Council votes to protect Arkaroola from uranium mining
SA Upper House votes for permanent Arkaroola protection, Australian Conservation Foundation, 9 June 11, The SA Upper House has tonight passed a Greens
motion calling on the SA Government to permanently protect the mountains of Arkaroola from mining.
This is the first time, after three previous attempts, that either chamber of the SA Parliament has voted in favour of protecting the iconic Arkaroola Wilderness sanctuary in the Northern Flinders Ranges.
Greens Parliamentary leader Mark Parnell, who moved the motion, said he was delighted it had passed.
“It’s clear that the Rann Government must now act to permanently protect this iconic part of South Australia.
“No longer can they ignore the overwhelming support in the South Australian community. I strongly urge them to get on with the task,” he said. Continue reading
Who runs Australia’s foreign uranium sales policy? Foreign Affairs Dept or Martin Ferguson?
From Australian parliament Estimates Transcripts | 8th June 2011 Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade 2 June 2011Senator LUDLAM: Can you confirm for us that the Australian government policy still precludes uranium supply to countries that lie outside the NPT framework?
Dr Floyd: The current Australian government policy is that we do not. We must have a bilateral agreement for nuclear cooperation and one of the conditions of that is that they are a member of the non-proliferation treaty.
Senator LUDLAM: Has ASNO at any time supplied any advice to any Australian government minister or the Prime Minister on a bilateral nuclear deal with India?
Dr Floyd: No, we have not.
Senator LUDLAM: I understand that resources minister, Martin Ferguson, has told the United States embassy in Canberra that a deal to supply India with nuclear fuel could be reached in three to five years. But your office has not been approached to provide advice in that regard?
Mr Paterson: We have no comment in respect of any reports relating to another minister’s communication with an embassy.
Former Liberal leader attacks both Australian parties on Climate Change
…The ‘Say Yes’ coalition wants the government to cut emissions by much more than the proposed 5 per cent by 2020 and make significant investments in renewable energy
Hewson takes swipe at parties over climate ABC News 6 June 11, Thousands of people turned out at rallies in support of action on carbon pollution yesterday, with former Liberal leader John Hewson attacking both sides of politics for their handling of the issue. Continue reading
Australian Conservation Foundation call to govt about Olympic Dam uranium mine
The debate over BHP Billiton’s proposed new Olympic Dam open pit mine is entering a new phase as the Minister for Environment assesses and makes a decision on the company’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in response to over 4000 public submissions.
The ALP Federal government should require BHP to address key public interests to avoid nuclear risks, to prevent environmental impacts and to commit to on-site copper processing.
BHP Billiton uranium impacts to drive down standards Australian Conservation Foundation, June 2011 BHP Biliton’s proposed new Olympic Dam open pit mine fails to comply with ALP policy commitments for the most stringent conditions
and to ensure world’s best practice standards in uranium mining. ACF calls on the Federal government to:
1. assess the option of copper mining and processing on-site, without uranium sales;
2. prevent leakage of tailings and isolate radioactive waste for at least 10 000 years;
3. extend the use of renewable energy from the desalination plant to all new operations;
4. re-locate the proposed desalination plant to prevent ecological impact from brine waste Continue reading
Martin Ferguson taking over foreign policy from Kevin Rudd?
Mr Ferguson had written to an environmental non-government organisation saying he was in charge of nuclear policy………Mr Ferguson told the US embassy in Canberra in 2009 a deal to supply India with nuclear fuel could be reached in three to five years…..
“Which I suspect would be a big surprise to the foreign minister (Kevin Rudd) who signed off on the bilateral security agreements,” Senator Ludlam told AAP…It would no doubt be a surprise to Environment Minister Peter Garrett
Ferguson self-crowned nuke king: Greens, Sydney Morning Herald, Andrea Hayward,May 31, 2011 The rift between the Australian Greens and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson is widening after another attack on the Labor frontbencher over nuclear policy.
Mr Ferguson had “crowned himself the emperor of nuclear policy”, Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said after a senate estimates hearing on Tuesday. Continue reading
Australia’s Resources Department overestimates costs of renewable energy
Forecasts prepared last year for the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism as it helped plan the future electricity network suggest solar and wind power are far more costly than they actually are……The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said changes to the cost of renewable energy would be noted
Green energy costs ‘out of date’, The Age, Ben Cubby, May 26, 2011 THE federal government and the power industry have massively overestimated the cost of renewable energy, according to new University of Melbourne research, commissioned by the the government’s own Garnaut climate change review. Continue reading
Australian Liberal Party Schism over Climate Change
Tony Abbott on his climate crusade | Herald Sun, May 21, 2011, TONY Abbott is behaving like the next election campaign has already started.He’s on a frantic crusade, visiting marginal seats and barnstorming the nation.And everywhere he goes he has one simple message: the carbon tax is toxic and will ruin your life……but he didn’t look happy when Malcolm Turnbull took fire at the Coalition’s “direct action” alternative, saying it would blow the Budget by 2050….Tony Abbott on his climate crusade | Herald Sun
Victorian ALP Conference motion to reaffirm Labor’s anti nuclear policy
The ALP Victoria Conference, noting that the Liberal Party in Victoria under Ted Baillieu and federally under Tony Abbott has continued to push for a domestic nuclear power industry in Australia.
And further, that
1. Nuclear energy is dangerous, dirty, expensive and slow;
2. As an energy source nuclear energy offers less power than renewables do, and in fact is a non-renewable resource; and
3. Nuclear energy programs are linked to nuclear weapons programs, and nuclear power plants are significant and serious potential targets for terrorists.
This Conference resolves to
1. Uphold and reaffirm Victorian Labor’s longstanding and principled opposition to nuclear energy and the construction of nuclear power stations; and
2. Oppose any construction of a nuclear power station in Victoria;
3. Raise awareness in the community of any Liberal Party attempts to introduce nuclear energy into Victoria by stealth.
Moved: Ali Vaughan (Melbourne FEA)
Seconded: Alex White (LHMU/ United Voice)
Martin Ferguson’s Nuclear Waste Dump Bill Now in the Too Hard Basket?
Nuclear waste dump debate on back burner, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 17 May 11, By Alison Middleton The Federal Government says it hopes the Senate will debate its proposed legislation for a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory at the next sittings of the Upper House in June.
The bill paves the way for a dump to be built at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek. It also also allows for alternative sites if that nomination does not go ahead.The bill was due to be debated last week but was not.A spokeswoman for Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says the Government hopes the bill will be debated at the next opportunity.Nuclear waste dump debate on back burner – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
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