Rudd Govt can over-ride Northern Territory
it is too useful to the commonwealth as a zone for decision-making.
Dreams of statehood are buried in a sparsely populated area * NORTHERN TERRITORY: Nicolas Rothwell, The Australian, February 27, 2010 THIS week’s announcement by federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson that the commonwealth’s preferred site for a national radioactive waste depository is Muckaty station in the heart of the central desert foregrounds a bitter truth about Northern Territory politics. Continue reading
Big money push for nuclear power, nuclear waste dumps in Australia
Big money can be made by a few, for Australia to become an international nuclear waste dump. Hence the push for (completely uneconomic) nuclear power in Australia. THE TRUE COSTS OF NUCLEAR POWER – our theme for March
No need for radioactive waste dump on aboriginal land – Public Health Association
there is no need then to have a waste dump unless there is an intention to import waste from overseas.
CONTRADICTION BETWEEN LABOR NUCLEAR WASTE PLAN AND INDIGENOUS HEALTH POLICY – Public Health Association of Australia 26 Feb 2010, Continue reading
Shameful politics behind Rudd govt’s new radioactive waste policy
the introduction this week of Minister Ferguson’s National Radioactive Waste Bill (2010)….
This legislation fails to honour federal Labor’s clear pre- election promise and existing policy position
Radioactive politics ABC The Drum Unleashed -25 Feb 2010, Continue reading
Australian Women Walk to Oppose Nuclear Waste Dump
“Most of the indigenous people of central Australia are opposed to a nuclear waste dump on their land and we need to stand by them. Opposing the nuclear industry is vital to supporting safe and peaceful future.”
Women’s Peace Walk to Take People’s Opposition to Nuke Dump to Canberra | Indymedia Australia 24 Feb 2010 Continue reading
Why Rudd must keep Garrett as Environment Minister
Peter Garrett was known for his strong anti-nuclear and pro-environment stand. That was before he became a politician. And of course, especially in the Labor Party, you have to be a “team player”. Peter Garrett has been a “team player” on matters like the Tasmanian pulp mill, and on widening the ALP’s policy to allow new uranium mines.
It will be no surprise when Garrett toes the line on future uranium/nuclear/radioactive waste decisions made by the Rudd government, as it kow-tows to BHP Billiton, and its other big industry backers. Garrett will be made to take the flak.
Rudd govt can use Peter Garrett as environment scapegoat
Standards sacrificed to save position THE AUSTRALIAN, 24 Feb 2010, PETER Garrett now appears likely to survive as Environment Minister.
He shouldn’t keep his job, because of incompetence and a failure of political instinct and courage, but he will stay out of political expediency.
By holding on to the crippled minister, the government can throw him to the wolves at a later date….The beleaguered minister’s residue of goodwill has been depleted and he now personifies the disillusion with climate change politics.
Dissension in Labor caucus over the Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan
Abbott sees ‘mood shifting’ from Rudd HERALDSUN AAP 23 Feb 2010,
“……One point of contention during the caucus meeting was the Rudd government’s expected decision to foist a nuclear waste dump upon the Northern Territory.Two members of caucus are understood to have spoken out against the move.
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson told his colleagues the government wouldn’t run away from “tough decisions” and it had to deal with the nuclear waste
Australian Government manipulations on nuclear waste dumping
How to site a nuclear waste dump – Crikey,
22 February 2010 The Government is expected to announce tomorrow or Wednesday that it will repeal and replace the Howard Government’s much-criticised Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005, and that a nuclear waste dump will be established at Muckaty Station, virtually in the middle of the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Labor MP to fight against NT nuclear waste dump
Hale to fight own party against nuclear dump ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) By Louisa Rebgetz 20 Feb 2010
As speculation mounts that a nuclear waste dump will be located in the Northern Territory, MP Damian Hale says he will “fight tooth and nail” to prevent it happening. Continue reading
Bob Hawke pushes for Australian lucrative nuclear waste import industry
Aust has a duty to take world’s nuclear waste, Hawke says The Canberra Times BY SCOTT HANNAFORD 20 Feb, 2010 Australia had an unarguable responsibility to accept the world’s nuclear waste and discarded nuclear weapons, and could create a huge new industry for the country by doing so, former prime minister Bob Hawke said last night.
aste, Hawke says – Local News – News – General – The Canberra Times
Why Rudd will put a radioactive waste dump in the Northern Territory
a few prominent white suits (living well away from the NT) could indeed see this as the beginning of a bonanza of taking in the rest of the world’sradioactive wastes.
Once again – it’s all simple politics. The Australian government is obligated to take back , within a year or so, radioactive wastes from UK – wastes that originated in Australia’s terrorist target – the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor.
There is no simple solution. Perhaps this relatively small nuclear waste dump could be situated at Lucas Heights, where it started, or perhaps it could join the existing radioactive waste at Woomera in South Australia. Then Lucas Heights could be closed, and that would be the end of it.
No such simple story, however, and in fact, no story at all, as it’s all decided very quietly – let the Australian public sleep on!
But – it must be the Northern Territory – they’re the only ones who cannot defy the federal government, – all the other States have the power to veto taking in nuclear wastes.
Anyway,a few aborigines could indeed see it as a good deal, getting a living standard equal to the rest of Australia perhaps – though the rest of us didn’t need to have our land turned into a radioactive waste in order to get that standard.
More to the point, a few prominent white suits (living well away from the NT) could indeed see this as the beginning of a bonanza of taking in the rest of the world’s radioactive wastes.
Australia will not introduce nuclear power
To meet its climate goals, Australia shouldn’t rely on either nuclear power or fossil fuels, Hepburn said. Instead the country should aggressively conserve energy and use more renewable power.
Rudd Rules Out Introducing Nuclear Power in Australia BusinessWeek By Ben Sharples and Stuart Biggs February 17, 2010, (Bloomberg) — Australia, ….has ruled out introducing nuclear power to the country and instead will pursue other low- carbon energy options, including ‘clean’ coal. Continue reading
Business Charter calls for Financially Risky Nuclear Business
David Noonan said high set-up costs made nuclear an unviable energy source for SA.
Business SA calls for “bold and brave” reforms in its Charter For A Prosperous South Australia | Adelaide Now Daniel Wills February 16, 2010
“……The charter challenges political leaders to adopt reforms including:…….PURSUING development of a nuclear energy industry to “take advantage” of the state’s enormous uranium stores….. Continue reading
Northern Territory Intervention all about Uranium and Nuclear Waste Dumping
Stop the Intervention – Neil E Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc – 9 February 2010 “I find the continuation of the racist NT Intervention by the Rudd Government disappointing.
I remind everyone that the Intervention is about access to Aboriginal land by business interests (mining) and the location of a dump for uranium waste.
SA, WA and Qld will not accept uranium waste so we are deluding ourselves the Intervention is anything but accessing Aboriginal land in the NT.
It has NOTHING to do with children.If it was about children, then the Intervention would have occurred elsewhere due to the undeniable fact that child abuse per capita is not as significant in the NT as it is in another State. NT is well down the pecking order.My question is why not have an Intervention in that State rather than the NT? The answer is simple. The Federal Govt does not have the Constitutional power to invade a State like it has in the NT.
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 