Economic case for a carbon price in Australia
Time for Australia to Go Green Green News and Ecological Awareness , 25 Aug 2010, Australia’s Climate Institute estimated that an absence of a carbon price will cost both the country’s economy and consumers an additional 2 billion dollars by 2020. “It would be better in the long run if we had a carbon price,” said Mr. Warren of the Clean Energy Council. “It’s the economic tool of choice, because it’s seen as being the most efficient and most effective.”Furthermore, he also said, “Once introduced, it creates a core signal to business to change their investment patterns. Without it we are in a second-best market. We encourage a more cooperative approach to a AU carbon scheme as quickly as possible.” However, the bipartite agreement which helped pass the laws on renewable energy does not include the issue on carbon….. Time for Australia to Go Green Green News and Ecological Awareness | Green News and Ecological Awareness
Australia’s ABC tries hard to get the news out, including nuclear
I just want to dissociate myself and this website from the criticism of the ABC in the otherwise most worthy item below. Far from being “spineless and irresponsible” , Australia’s ABC is most often the only news media that covers controversial issues, especially in the uranium and nuclear area.
The ABC is obligated to cover news and opinion fully, including the conservative and right-wing views. It does this, yet still gets flak for its supposed “left-wing bias”. Yet research studies in recent times have shown that this bias does not exist.
By the ABC’s coverage of for example, pro-nuclear, pro-uranium views, it is enabled to also cover the anti-nuclear ones – and with credibility. Christina Macpherson, 25 Aug 2010
Murdochracy and Lobbyocracy Australia
Major Elephant In The Room Issues Ignored In Australian Elections, Countercurrents.org By Dr Gideon Polya, 24 August, 2010
An extraordinary feature of the election campaign in Murdochcracy and Lobbyocracy Australia was the virtual absence of any discussion about the most serious issues facing Australia .
The major reasons for reasons for this are (a) Murdoch News Empire ownership of about 70% of city daily newspapers; (b) a spineless and irresponsible Australian Broadcasting Corporation (the ABC, Australia’s equivalent of the UK BBC) which adopts a “balanced “ position between extreme right wing Labor and extreme right wing Liberal-National Party Coalition; and (c) Mainstream media and bipartisan, Lib-Lab refusal to properly discuss these key Elephant in the Room issues…… major matters that were effectively not part of the national discussion in the Australian federal elections because of the ignorance and dishonesty of the Australian Mainstream media and right wing politicians. Major Elephant In The Room Issues Ignored In Australian Elections
Germaine Greer’s withering gaze on Australia (and uranium mining)
Australian election: Soap opera politics of Oz, Australia’s most outspoken expat Germaine Greer casts her withering gaze on soap opera politics Down Under By Germaine Greer, Telegraph UK, 24 Aug 2010 “………….Australia will still be a global polluter, exporting coal as fast as anyone can be got to buy it, vying with Canada to dig up the most uranium, failing to make even a minimal effort to control the largest per capita energy consumption in the world. Gillard may yet get to keep her executive jet, but the power-brokers will never let her pursue any policy that would cost votes.
Australia’s future looks grim enough with Gillard but with Abbott it would look terrifying.
Australia’s New Independent M.P. – nuclear trouble for Labor and Liberal
”Windsor maintains a strong stance against nuclear. “I said (before the election) if you want nuclear power to overcome some of the issues in the world, don’t vote for me,” he stressed…….
Windsor is optimistic – International Business TimesBy Yvette Lane | August 24, 2010 “…..Independent MP Tony Windsor of New South Wales remained confident about negotiations on who will form the government. Continue reading
Swing against Labor in NT due to Labor’s Aboriginal policy and nuclear waste dump plans
Mr Hampton said…….There’s obviously the issues …..in terms of the nuclear waste dump as well, so they’re federal issues……
Intervention cost Labor votes: NT minister – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Eleni Roussos, 24 Aug 2010, The Minister for Central Australia, Karl Hampton, says the federal intervention contributed to a swing against Labor in the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Australian Election -That Green Light on the Hill
Media commentators focus on the overall national swing against Labor, in the Australian election results.
But what about that other equally big, equally national, swing – towards the Greens?
I note that some mainstream media are describing the elected Greens as “extremists”, and as “completely irrational”.
But a swing to the Greens, across Australia, and the prospect of 9 Greens Senators – it’s hard to write off such a sizeable representation of the Australian public as “extremists” and “irrational”
In the more positive article, Paul Strangio’s ”post-materialist cosmopolitans” is mentioned, as the constituency for new Greens MP Richard di Natale. These people represent a growing new breed in Western culture – progressive, broad-minded, ready to lead a satisfying lifestyle with fewer material things, and less energy use.
It’s unfortunate that the newly elected Senators will not take their places until July 2011. This means that Australians will need to be aware of their politicians rushing bad laws through between now and then – Christina Macpherson 23 Aug 2010
New Greens Senator brings hope for renewable energy
There’s a new light on the hill, and it’s bright Green, The Age, Jewel TopsfieldAugust 23, 2010 “… there was no stopping Victoria’s first Greens senator Richard Di Natale in this sweet, long-savoured moment. ”There is a new light on the hill and it’s powered by renewable energy,” he thundered at the Greens election night party in Melbourne,………..Comprising the former working-class suburbs of Fitzroy, North Melbourne, Brunswick and Richmond, the electorate is home to many progressive-thinking, educated professionals – a tribe Monash University lecturer Paul Strangio dubbed ”post-materialist cosmopolitans”. There’s a new light on the hill, and it’s bright Green
Only the Greens dared mention nuclear issues
Australians watched in amazement and amusement, as the media and election campaigns focused on personalities, buzz words, mantras – “going forward” “real action”. If possible – anything but policies, it would seem.
Focus groups, daily opinion polls, and good old spin – these were the factors driving Australia’s ever dumber election campaigns by the major parties.
Some real policies got a mention, – seemingly in inverse relationship to their importance.
What got little mention is Global Warming, Climate Change.
What got no mention at all- the nuclear issue.
It must have come as a shock to Australia’s major political parties to realise that The Greens do have leaders of vision – Bob Brown, and Christine Milne. These leaders do have clear policies on Climate Change, uranium mining, and nuclear power.
Perth, Western Australia – anti nuclear protest
Nuclear protest – inMyCommunity – Perth, Western Australia, 10 Aug 2010, ANTI-nuclear protesters took their message to voters in the electorate of Tangney last Friday morning, capitalising on peak hour traffic outside the office of Liberal and pro-nuclear energy candidate, Dennis Jensen, to make their point.The protesters from the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of WA (ANAWA) held banners at the corner of Leach Highway and Karel Avenue, Willetton.The protest coincided with the 65th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombings.
ANAWA spokeswoman Sarah Holt-Foreman said the occasion was an opportunity to remind people of the dangers of uranium mining and nuclear power production.“We want to remind people what Dennis Jensen stands for… we don’t believe nuclear power is a solution to climate change, or anything,” Ms Holt-Foereman said. Nuclear protest – inMyCommunity – Perth, Western Australia
Australia’s error – dig it up, ship it out, high carbon mentality
Lack of certainty on a carbon price stunts the growth of fledgling alternative energy industries, stifles consumer behavioural change and, combined with conflicting regulatory measures, leads to non-optimal short-term decisions, while both main political parties lack the stomach to take on the vested interests. So we fall back into the comfort zone of our dig-it-up and ship-it-out high carbon mindset. In so doing, we are making arguably the greatest strategic error in Australia’s history.
Our great strategic error, ABC The Drum Unleashed, 21 Aug 2010, “…Our resource base is formidable and expanding. But that bounty is fast becoming our Achilles heel. Continue reading
Anti-nuclear movement making waves in Australia
The sad reality is that whoever forms government in Australia on Monday will support expanded uranium mining and radioactive waste dumping at Muckaty.
Whilst we have strong political supporters it is increasingly clear that it is the community and community organisations and resistance that best challenges the atomic agenda
those of us working for a nuclear free future have got some results and made some waves.– Dave Sweeney, 20 August 2010, Continue reading
Uranium mining risk to Alice Springs water
The federal member for the seat of Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, says if re-elected the Government will commit to a study of whether Alice Springs groundwater supplies could be affected by a proposed uranium mine 20 kilometres from the town.
Study into uranium impact on water ‘desperate’, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Anna Henderson, 20 Aug 2010, The Greens say Labor’s promise to investigate the effects of uranium mining on the Alice Springs water supply is a desperate bid to win back the environmental vote. Continue reading
Both Australian Labor and Liberal would cut renewable energy funding
Australian Greens Blast Gillard For Cutting Solar Power Funding : Renewable Energy News, 20 Aug 2010, The Australian Greens say they are the only party serious about tackling climate change and transitioning Australia into a renewable energy economy. Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, has attacked both Labor and the Coalition for cutting $416.5 million out of renewable energy funding. Continue reading
Business needs a carbon tax, says Bob Brown
business sees the Greens as being economically responsible, I talked about saving Australia from recession. I talked about our proposal for a carbon tax. I believe it’s that proposal which one of the big parties, the next party in office is going to have to come back to because business wants it, because business is saying we need a carbon signal for investment into the future. Only the Greens are offering it
Greens say business wants carbon tax, Radio Australia:, Linda Mottram interviews Bob Brown, Australian Greens leader. August 19, 2010 “……..BROWN: The Australian Greens are in favour of transforming our economy from burning coal and forests to renewable energy and energy efficiency, and we have to do it urgently. My colleague Christine Milne has put forward a proposal for Australia to be carbon neutral; that is not putting any further carbon into the atmosphere between 2030 and 2050. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 