Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

NT politician claims that South Australia wants nuclear waste dump

Territory MP wants nuke waste dumped in SA ABC News By Michael Coggan  Nov 4, 2009   Darwin A Northern Territory federal politician is arguing for a national nuclear waste dump to be built in South Australia. Continue reading

November 5, 2009 Posted by | 1, politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear power for Australia? – a definite NO

AustantinukeAustralia’s Future Power Sources Won’t Include Nuclear – PM CANBERRA  -By Ray Brindal, Dow Jones Newswires 4 November 09 – The future sources for Australia’s power needs include coal, natural gas and a range of renewables rather than nuclear, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Wednesday. Continue reading

November 4, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy, politics, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Northern Territory targeted as the only place for nuclear waste dump

Nuclear dump sites ‘all in the Territory’ NORTHERN TERRITORY NEWS NICK CALACOURAS November 3rd, 2009 THE Federal Government has been sitting on a report on the decision to build a nuclear waste dump in the Territory for the past nine months. Continue reading

November 4, 2009 Posted by | 1, Northern Territory, politics, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Warning on China’s uranium mining in Australia

Chinese buy up NT uranium stake NICK CALACOURAS October 31st, 2009 The Commonwealth has signed off on a $140 million deal to allow a Territory company to provide uranium to Chinese nuclear power plants. Continue reading

October 31, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

SA government not protecting sanctuary against uranium pollution

Arkaroola plan ‘not strong enough’ ABC News 28 Oct 09 A Greens’ legislative councillor says a South Australian Government plan to manage mining and conservation in the Northern Flinders fails to protect the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

The plan is a response to the discovery of illegally dumped exploration waste at Arkaroola but Mark Parnell says the response is not strong enough.

“The Government should have just made the announcement that they were not going to allow future exploration or mining anywhere in the wilderness sanctuary,” he said.

“Instead, they have produced a map for discussion that shows most of the wilderness sanctuary still available for mining and only one tiny area close to Mount Painter which is designated as off limits.”…………… The State Government draft framework is currently open for public comment. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/28/2726287.htm

 

October 30, 2009 Posted by | politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Protest against BHP as Alternative BHP Report released

BHPB-Olympic In Melbourne today, protesters gather outside BHP Billiton’s head
office in Melbourne, highlighting the impacts of BHP’s plan to make
Olympic Dam the biggest uranium mine in the world.

Friends of the Earth’s national nuclear campaigner Dr Jim Green said:
“For all of BHP Billiton’s hollow rhetoric about corporate social
responsibility, the company operates the Olympic Dam mine in SA under an outdated Indenture Act which exempts the mine from key environmental and Aboriginal heritage laws.

“BHP Billiton has provided over $2 million to Reconciliation Australia.
Yet the company will not relinquish its exemptions from the SA
Aboriginal Heritage Act. The company’s attitude appears to be ‘do as I
say not as I do’. It’s time for this hypocrisy to end.”

Duban Velez, a union delegate for workers at the Cerrejon coal mine in
Colombia, will be at today’s protest in Melbourne to tell his story
about BHP’s inadequate social and environmental standards in Colombia.
Mr Velez will also be attending BHP’s second AGM, in Brisbane on
November 26. Farming families in villages around the mine have been
deprived of their livelihoods as the mine expands and accuse BHP of
failing to negotiate in good faith or offer sufficient assistance or
compensation.

The Alternative Annual Report can be downloaded at:
http://tinyurl.com/yjjluqg

October 29, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium miners – the phoniest of corporations

During the next decade the world must reduce emissions as fast as possible, in order to avoid climate change “tipping points”. Australia is the world’s worst per-capita emitter of greenhouse gases. Our coal-fired power stations emit almost 50 percent of our emissions, so it is crucial that we minimise their emissions as fast as possible. Continue reading

October 28, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Western Australian government’s “blind spot” about uranium mining

Greens sceptical about uranium mine assessment ABC News  Oct 16, 2009 The Greens say they doubt the Western Australian Government will be swayed on the level of environmental assessment it is proposing for a uranium mine on the Goldfields.The Government last week extended the time available for public comment on the assessment level for BHP Billiton’s Yeelirrie mine by four weeks.

WA Greens’ Senator Scott Ludlam says while he encourages more people to respond within the consultation period, he is sceptical it will make a difference.”Nobody seriously believes this State Government or this Environment Minister is going to take a look at the evidence that the community will put on the table …………… Government has got a particular blind spot around uranium mining ……….

Greens sceptical about uranium mine assessment – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

October 17, 2009 Posted by | politics, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , | Leave a comment

BHPB sets policy for Federal govt, as well as for South Australia’s

BHPBillitonSmWe knew that BHP pretty much dictated the policies of the South Australian government – most clearly shown in the Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) Act 1982 (Indenture Act). which  provides BHP Billiton the legal authority Continue reading

October 15, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Liberal party leader Turnbull says that nuclear has “zero emissions”

More pressure for Turnbull The Age ANDREW DARBY, HOBARTOctober 14, 2009THE Rudd Government is pressuring Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull over climate change – ruling out nuclear power and calling for his view………………
Leading political figures including former NSW premier Bob Carr and Mr Turnbull advocate debate on the nuclear  topic.

But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said his Government was against it. Australia would meet the greenhouse challenge by investment in carbon sequestration and solar energy, and setting renewable energy targets.

”We do not see a nuclear power plant as part of our response to our energy future. In the past [former prime minister John] Howard said he wanted to see nuclear power plants around Australia. What’s Mr Turnbull’s position? Mine’s very clear.”……..

Mr Turnbull, …………. described nuclear power as a ”zero emissions” power source.

More pressure for Turnbull

October 14, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

Only the Greens up to date on low carbon economy

Head-in-the-sand economics Business Spectator, Giles Parkinson 13 Oct 09 “……….Unlike the other domestic political parties who are bickering over a scheme that will have minimal environmental impact, only the Greens are proposing a scheme that seeks to meet the demand of the science. Continue reading

October 13, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Women 4 times less likely to favour nuclear

Women recycle and save water but men go nuclear The Age CARMEL EGAN October 11, 2009 Continue reading

October 10, 2009 Posted by | 1, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

BHP Billiton’s uranium mining is above the law

Olympic Dam expansion: above the law? On Line Opinion  By Peter Burdon 9 October 2009 In the heart of the South Australian outback, rests the Olympic Dam mine, owned and operated by BHP Billiton. Continue reading

October 10, 2009 Posted by | 1, legal, politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Narrow assessment will allow BHP’s uranium mine to go ahead

Public inquiry not possible on uranium mining

Perth Now

Narelle Towie, science and environment reporter

October 09, 2009

ENVIRONMENT Minister Donna Faragher has today ruled out holding a public inquiry into BHP Billiton’s proposal for a $17 billion uranium mine in WA. Continue reading

October 10, 2009 Posted by | 1, legal, politics, uranium, Western Australia | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australian Liberal MP opposes nuclear plant

MP warns against Port Stephens nuclear plant

ABC Newcastle News 26 Sept 09 The state Liberal Member for Port Stephens, Craig Baumann, says he is not against nuclear energy, but will not tolerate a power plant being built in his electorate.

Yesterday, Acting Opposition Leader Julie Bishop said nuclear energy needs to be considered as a way to address climate change.Three years ago Mr Baumann strongly criticised an Australia Institute report that named Port Stephens as an ideal site for a nuclear power station.He says such a plant would ruin the area.

ABC Newcastle NSW – MP warns against Port Stephens nuclear plant

September 26, 2009 Posted by | 1, New South Wales, politics, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment