Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

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

February 25, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

February 24, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

February 24, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

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

February 24, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

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

February 23, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

February 20, 2010 Posted by | Northern Territory, politics | , , , , | Leave a comment

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

February 20, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics | , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

February 19, 2010 Posted by | Christina reviews, Northern Territory, politics | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

February 18, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

February 16, 2010 Posted by | politics, South Australia | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

Stop the Intervention – Neil E Gillespie, CEO, ALRM 9-2-10

February 12, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Australia’s voting system distorts Climate Change action

Queensland and particularly Western Australia, which both have strong fossil fuels industries, relatively rural dwelling patterns, and populations of about 2m and 4.5m respectively.’……….

The climate policy disconnect: It’s rural voter over-representation  Financial Times February 8,  by Kate Mackenzie “………..a new paper finds that over-representation of regional voters can make a significant difference to public policy on both gasoline taxes and international climate change agreements… Continue reading

February 9, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

Government Report has vision for Sustainable Northern Australia

The Taskforce points the way for a sustainable future for the north of Australia – one that must include Aboriginal people at the heart of it.

Greens Challenge Government over Northern Australia   Rachel Siewert  8th February 2010, The Australian Greens have challenged the Government to commit to implementing the vision outlined in the Sustainable Development in Northern Australia report released today. Continue reading

February 8, 2010 Posted by | Northern Territory, politics | , , | 2 Comments

W.A’s Chamber of Minerals and Energy doesn’t want public inquiry on uranium mining

Chamber snubs uranium inquiry call ABC News  February 4, 2010 The Chamber of Minerals and Energy has rejected the call for a public inquiry into proposed uranium projects in Western Australia.The Government yesterday upheld a decision by the Environmental Protection Authority to use an environmental and management review program to assess Toro Energy’s uranium project near Wiluna.

The Conservation Council of Western Australia wants a public inquiry, the highest level of assessment, and says it should be applied to all proposed uranium projects.

Chamber snubs uranium inquiry call – ABC North West WA – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

February 6, 2010 Posted by | politics, uranium, water, Western Australia | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Climate Sceptic extremist has a ‘significant argument’ says Abbott

‘Mad Monk’ meets Monckton THE AGE , TOM ARUP February 4, 2010 A day after releasing his climate change policy, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has met the world’s most famous climate change sceptic, Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley…… Continue reading

February 4, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics | , , , , | Leave a comment