Australia’s democracy at risk in carbon tax fight
The carbon debate is a test for our democracy, Sydney Morning Herald, March 10, 2011 THE carbon tax debate shapes as a turning point in Australian politics. Continue reading
Northern Territory’s fight against nuclear waste dump
Support for statehood is mounting, as residents become outraged at the way they say the NT’s constitutional weakness has enabled the Government to force a nuclear waste dump on central Australia….…
Only one chance to state our case, Northern Territory News, LARINE STATHAM | March 5th, 2011 THE TERRITORY is mounting a second bid for statehood even as the Australian Greens seek an important easing of federal control – specifically, the scrapping of legislative powers enabling a single federal minister to overturn laws passed by the territories. Continue reading
W.A. govt downgrading potential of renewable energy
WA urged to unlock renewable energy potential – ABC South West WA – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 5 March 11, The Sustainable Energy Association says the State Government needs to be more ambitious about Western Australia’s renewable energy plans.A directions paper called ‘Energy 2031’ has been released to discuss how Western Australia will meet its growing energy requirements over the next 20 years.The paper has been drafted by the Office of Energy and government departments.The association’s chief executive, Ray Wills, says the Government’s plans should be aiming to unlock WA’s vast renewable energy resources.”This document tends to think about barriers instead of thinking about opportunities, this document tends to discount the ability of renewable energy to deliver and worries more about the threats that might occur from failing to plan into the future,” he said. WA urged to unlock renewable energy potential – ABC South West WA – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australia’s Minister for Coal, and Nuclear? and – er Climate Change
Combet .. is also adamant the coal industry will continue to grow under a carbon price,…..he says a carbon price will make the nuclear option more economically viable…..
Can-do Combet well used to taking heat, The Australian, Sid Maher, March 05, 2011As he approaches the sharp end of negotiations to flesh out the detail of the climate change framework announced by the Prime Minister, Combet makes several principles clear. Continue reading
The devious politics of uranium mining – example Arkaroola
To thread their way through environmental protection laws and keep Marathon investing, supporters of mining in the sanctuary have performed a range of unedifying gymnastics.
For years, Labor has joined with Marathon in a flagrant misreading of the SA Development Plan.
SA Labor buckling on Arkaroola uranium?, Green Left Weekly, February 27, 2011By Renfrey Clarke,”……….As insurance against lingering environmentalism among government ministers, Marathon — one of whose largest shareholders is the Chinese mining group CITIC — has brought a suite of former Labor politicians on board. Continue reading
Koch brothers’ influence will reach Australia to fight carbon tax
The nastiest end of the anti-tax campaign will come from a right-wing extremist grouping that includes Fox News’s Glenn Beck and is backed by the notorious Koch brothers. Koch and Koch are oil barons who run the largest private company in the USA and fund climate sceptics, race haters and the Tea Party, with funding tentacles reaching into Australia……
Another step towards renewable energy – Unleashed (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 25 Feb 2011, “…..The “can’t do” campaign will be meeting in PR war rooms across Australia this morning, deciding how much to spend on lobbying, advertising and astro-turfing. Continue reading
Aboriginal traditional owners challenge Australian government to meet them over nuclear waste dump issue
“Come Out and Camp with Us” Traditional Owners Challenge Government to Meet Over Muckaty Waste Dump, 26 Feb 2011, Muckaty Traditional Owners met outside the offices of the Northern Land Council in Tennant Creek today to protest the passing of the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill through the House of Representatives.
The protest coincided with a federal court mediation in Melbourne about the contested Muckaty site nomination, attended by Traditional Owner Mark Lane Jangala. The Traditional Owners resolved to continue fighting the proposed waste dump and reiterated calls for politicians and the NLC to come to Tennant Creek and meet with the community. Continue reading
Nuclear waste dump imposed on Northern Territory
“Territorians have a right to have the laws passed
Nuclear dump laws ‘show need for NT statehood’, – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Jane Bardon Feb 24, 2011 The imminent passage of national nuclear waste dump legislation is another argument for the Northern Territory to become a state, the Territory’s Statehood Committee says. Continue reading
Julia Gillard playing it smart with carbon tax
This time, Julia Gillard is playing a cannier game. There were almost no policy details released yesterday beyond the decision to implement a fixed price, and the decision to include transport but to leave out agriculture. That left little for industry critics to go on, and allowed Gillard to cleverly foreshadow Abbott’s anti-tax attack.
It’s Getting Hot In Here | newmatilda.com, 25 Feb 2011, By Ben Eltham Whether you call it a carbon tax or a carbon price, the carbon wars are back on. This time round, Gillard is playing it smart on climate policy. Continue reading
Australian Country Liberal MP shows integrity on nuclear waste issue
Ms Griggs has come out against the dump.
Griggs defiant on N-waste NT News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia . 24 Feb 2011, TERRITORIANS are probably evenly divided about the Federal Government’s decision to build a nuclear waste dump near Tennant Creek.Some argue that Australia has an obligation to store its nuclear waste properly and the NT Outback is as good a place as any…….
But on one issue there is more agreement – that Canberra should not have the right to impose the dump on Territorians. Continue reading
Martin Ferguson’s cynical National Radioactive Waste Management Bill
The law overrides state, territory and local government laws and allows Resource Minister Martin Ferguson to disregard key environmental and Indigenous safeguards….“Any attempt to apply this law will be actively resisted. The Muckaty dump plan is a bad deal but it is not a done deal.”
Radioactive waste law ‘cynical and irresponsible’, by Dave Sweeney 24 Feb 2011, Legislation designed to smooth the way for the construction of a national radioactive dump on contested Indigenous land at Muckaty, north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, is improper, irresponsible and a broken promise, the Australian Conservation Foundation said today. Continue reading
Australian government rush to legalise nuclear dump on Aboriginal land
He accused the government of attempting to ram legislation through parliament before traditional owners, who are opposed to the dump at Muckaty, launch legal action in the federal court on Friday.
Nuclear dump report a whitewash – Bandt Herald Sun: AAP * February 21, 2011 AUSTRALIA’S first radioactive waste dump has been subject to less oversight than would be deemed appropriate for construction of a car park, parliament has been told. Continue reading
Federal Country Liberal MP stands up for Northern Territory against nuclear waste dump
Griggs fights nuclear dump, NT News, NIGEL ADLAM | February 22nd, 2011 A TERRITORY federal MP is to vote against forcing the NT to house a nuclear waste dump. Member for Solomon Natasha Griggs has said she will vote against a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory Continue reading
S.A. govt should come clean on Arkaroola uranium mining policy
Creating a national park would give the SA Premier a boost in the polls, with mining in the sanctuary highly unpopular among voters. However, converting the land to national park would not affect the mining lease. Marathon was recently granted a 12-month extension to its licence at Arkaroola.
National park rumours take toll on SA uranium miner | The Australian, Verity Edwards and Damon Kitney February 21, 2011 1 The value of controversial mining company Marathon Resources has fallen by $4.9 million amid speculation the Rann government will declare the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary a national park. Continue reading
Australian Labor Party’s Nuclear Self-Destruction
If the ALP wants to reverse this trend, re-energise its membership base and win Greens voters back to the Labor fold, the last thing it should be doing is trashing its remaining environmental credentials by adopting a pro-nuclear policy.
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 