Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Nuclear power obsolete and unnecessary – Victorian Labor and Liberal agree

Nuclear power is not needed in Victoria because it is expensive, dangerous and obsolete given the state’s abundance of energy options, say Premier John Brumby and Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu.

Parties agree Victoria will remain nuclear-free state, The Age, RICHARD WILLINGHAM, October 20, 2010 VICTORIA will remain a nuclear-free state, regardless of who wins next month’s state election. Continue reading

October 19, 2010 Posted by | politics, uranium, Victoria | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Powerful union rubbishes Committee of Melbourne’s push for nuclear energy

One of the state’s most powerful unions, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), on Tuesday slammed a push from the Committee of Melbourne for nuclear energy to be on the agenda.

Nuclear too risky and costly: Brumby, Sydney Morning Herald, Melissa Jenkins and Catherine Best, October 19, 2010 –  Nuclear power is too risky and expensive to be an energy option for Victoria, Premier John Brumby says Continue reading

October 19, 2010 Posted by | energy, politics, uranium, Victoria | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Expansion plans for Olympic Dam uranium mine need public scrutiny

BHP upgrades Olympic Dam forecasts | Adelaide Now SARAH MARTIN,The Advertiser October 15, 2010 …..Greens MLC Mark Parnell said the company’s plans to double expansion should require it to submit a revised EIS allowing further public consultation.”This has major implications for BHP Billiton and its shareholders,” Mr Parnell said.
“The State Government and BHP Billiton need to come clean with the South Australian people and reveal the full extent of this project, before any approvals are given,” he said…….BHP upgrades Olympic Dam forecasts | Adelaide Now

October 16, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Western Australian govt’s Aboriginal land grab opposed by Greens

Greens slam compulsory WA land grab, Sydney Morning Herald, October 14, 2010 AAP Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has slammed West Australian Premier Colin Barnett’s decision to compulsorily acquire land in the Kimberley for a gas hub
Senator Brown on Wednesday toured James Price Point, the site chosen for the $30 billion Woodside Petroleum-led project, 60km north of Broome.

The Greens leader told a public meeting that night in Broome he would work hard to put the issue on the national agenda……Greens slam compulsory WA land grab

October 15, 2010 Posted by | politics, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Victoria determined to close down dirty Hazelwood coal power station

Greens MP Greg Barber said new climate change laws allowed the government to legislate Hazelwood out of existence without compensation being due.

Dirty coal station ‘will be closed’, Sydney Morning Herald, Richard Willingham, October 14, 2010 PREMIER John Brumby is ”completely confident” Australia’s dirtiest power station will be closed, with or without federal help. Continue reading

October 14, 2010 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, politics, Victoria | , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s Climate Minister trying to weaken action on Climate Change

The Greens will have the critical say in passing a legislated carbon price when they pick up the balance of power in the Senate after June 30 next year

Greens must compromise on global warming, minister warns Patricia Karvelas and Joe Kelly   The Australian * October 13, 2010 CLIMATE Change Minister Greg Combet has warned the Greens they need to compromise on climate change if they want action…… Continue reading

October 13, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

Hypocrisy of Australian Liberal Party over Aboriginal Land Rights

Aboriginal people from Muckaty north of Tennant Creek were told by the Liberal Party they would only receive funding for roads, housing and education if they accept a nuclear waste dump on their land. Abbott and Scullion are continuing to support laws which would force this waste dump on Muckaty by over-riding the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT), the Aboriginal Heritage Act and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Tony Abbott and Nigel Scullion don’t care about Aboriginal Land Rights Statement on Tony Abbott’s Wild Rivers bill from the Intervention Rollback Action Group Alice Springs, October 6 2010 www.rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/statements/

We have been sickened by the hypocrisy of Liberal leader Tony Abbott and Liberal NT Senator Nigel Scullion on their recent crusade to overturn Queensland ‘Wild Rivers’ legislation. Continue reading

October 8, 2010 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | 1 Comment

Australian govt can use carbon pricing to provide renewable energy infrastructure

The construction of new renewable energy grid infrastructure is one example of an investment-centred measure. Expanded electricity grid infrastructure would open up renewable resources for sustainable development and help overcome a non-market barrier to clean energy deployment……

The Gillard government and those in the parliament who support effective action on climate change can use carbon-pricing legislation to secure funding for an ambitious nation-building climate policy agenda.

Want to stop climate change? Move beyond carbon pricing, Rooted, Leigh Ewbank, October 7, 2010 by Crikey: Continue reading

October 7, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australian Greens support Aboriginal fight against Muckaty nuclear waste dump

He read a letter from traditional owners to Parliament – “We are the Aboriginal people who own the land and the dreamings you are talking about, we are asking that you reject this bill and scrap Muckaty as a site for the waste dump.”

Greens urge rethink of nuclear dump site – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Megan Lewis  Sep 29, 2010 The Greens have urged the Federal Government to scrap plans to build a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory…… Continue reading

September 30, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Northern Territory govt opposes Paladin and Cameco’ s uranium mining plans

NT reversal cruels U-hopefuls’ plans TradingMarkets.com, 29 Sep 2010Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson has withdrawn support for Cameco Corporation’s and Paladin Energy’s proposed uranium mine near Alice Springs. The announcement came just two years after Cameco and Paladin won developmentrights for the Angela Pamela project and two weeks before a local by-election in the seat of Alice Springs. NT reversal cruels U-hopefuls’ plans | TradingMarkets.com

September 30, 2010 Posted by | Northern Territory, politics, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Western Australian Senator urges State to reject Plibara uranium mine

West Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam is calling for a public inquiry into the risks associated with the mine.

Greens urge opposition to proposed Pilbara uranium mine  ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Sep 28, 2010 The Greens have urged the West Australian and Federal governments to follow the lead of the Northern Territory government which is opposing a proposed uranium mine.he Northern Territory Continue reading

September 29, 2010 Posted by | politics, uranium, Western Australia | , , , | Leave a comment

Northern Territory govt opposes Cameco’s planned uranium mine at Alice Springs

uranium mining activities near the springs could potentially contaminate the area’s underground water reservoir.

NT govt declares opposition on planned Cameco uranium site in Alice Springs,  International Business Times, By Ricky Roxas, 28 Sept 10, The Northern Territory government said on Tuesday that it would block any plans of establishing a uranium mine site in the area following revelations that Cameco Corporation is mulling an exploration project on the Angela Pamela deposit near Alice Springs….. Continue reading

September 28, 2010 Posted by | Northern Territory, politics, uranium | , , , , , | 1 Comment

French nuclear company AREVA pushing uranium in Koongarra

it is AREVA that is pushing very hard for access to the rich Koongarra uranium deposit in the Northern Territory….Australia is already at the centre of the new global nuclear debate.

The French Connection | Hybrid Auto Review – Hybrid Cars, 26 Sept 10, The Herald has an article up about the vultures circling prospective Australian uranium mines – in this particular case the French nuclear industry, Continue reading

September 28, 2010 Posted by | Northern Territory, politics, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Carbon tax could fund a renewable energy Australia

by investing the revenue raised by taxing carbon emissions (or fossil fuels) in renewable energy and clean technology research, development, demonstration and deployment…establish a National Clean Technology Fund.

Carbon tax could be the ticket for a greener Australia ›  (ABC Environment) by Leigh Ewbank. 27 Sept 10, “……The Gillard government’s new cross-party Climate Change Committee aims to spearhead carbon-pricing legislation in the next term. Continue reading

September 28, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics | , , , , , | 1 Comment

South Australian govt promotes rare earth complex

The Whyalla rare earths complex will process mineral concentrate from the Nolans project, in the Northern Territory.

Arafura’s rare earth complex gets priority status Mining Weekly, By: Esmarie Swanepoel, 24th September 2010 PERTH   – Rare earth developer Arafura Resources on Friday announced that South Australia Urban Development and Planning Minister Paul Holloway had declared the Whyalla rare earths complex a major project….. Continue reading

September 25, 2010 Posted by | politics, South Australia, uranium | , , | Leave a comment