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
Put Nuclear Waste at Lucas Heights, Not Aboriginal Land – Says Medical Body
MAPW believes that the safest current option for management of this toxic waste is likely to be continued storage at the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor.”
The Medical Association for Prevention of War notes with concern today’s announcement by Energy Minister Martin Ferguson that the Australian Government will pursue Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory as the preferred site for a nuclear waste dump. 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
Aboriginal people across Australia will fight radioactive waste transport and dumping
only some people agreed to the dump “because they saw the dollar sign”. Although Elders had long warned that the radiation is dangerous,
“Aborigines from across the country will fight nuclear dumping” Goodooga, northwest NSW, 24 February 10 – Aboriginal people will be called from all over Australia to protest in the Northern Territory against any movement of nuclear waste across their traditional lands, an Aboriginal activist says. Continue reading
United Nations Envoy Condemns Australian Govt’s Aboriginal “Intervention”
Professor Anaya also criticised compulsory land takeovers proceeded without consent,
UN envoy demands changes to ‘racist’ intervention, Sydney Morning Herald, YUKO NARUSHIMA , February 25, 2010 Continue reading
Maralinga Victims: Aboriginal Class Action Proceeding
Aboriginal Victims to Sue British over nuclear tests February 21, 2010 PodOmatic | Podcast – 2SER’s Razors Edge Five aboriginal people affected by nuclear tests at Emu Field in 1953 have begun legal proceedings in the UK Continue reading
Legal action on aboriginal nuclear test victims
SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS Potential Australian Nuclear Tests Victims, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc. Coober Pedy Regional Times 23 Feb 2010, In June 2009, the English Courts ruled that military personnel and their families affected by the Nuclear Tests conducted in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s were entitled to bring personal injuries actions against the United Kingdom Government. Continue reading
Govt lies about need for Northern Territory nuke waste dump
Another furphy, this one directly peddled by the Minister, says access to nuclear medicine in Australia is dependent on putting a nuclear waste dump in the NT
Radioactive politics, ABC The Drum Unleashed – 25 Feb 2010, There are a number of furphies about the type of nuclear waste that is produced in Australia. Continue reading
Martin Ferguson pulls a swifty on Northern Territory Nuclear Waste Dump
S.11 of the [new]Bill overrides all state and territory laws that regulate or prohibit nuclear waste dumps
S.12 of the [new]Bill directly overrides the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 in a similar manner to the Howard-era Act. It also overrides the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Back to the future with Ferguson’s nuclear waste legislation crikey, 24 Feb 2010 “…Labor’s 2007 election commitment was to repeal the CRWMA, which overrode NT laws and any Commonwealth legislation that might have delayed or hindered the investigation of waste dump sites, and replace it with a “a consensual process of site selection”. And Ferguson insisted yesterday that that was exactly what was happening. 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
Ferguson putting it over us on Muckaty nuclear waste dump
a small group of traditional owners were paid $200,000 to volunteer their land, but that the government had refused to make the agreement public
Nuclear waste dump should be ‘scrapped’
BigPond News February 23, 2010
Mr Sweeney ….. argued the government was still forcing a nuclear waste dump on a community that doesn’t want it. He says about 60 traditional owners have signed a petition opposing the development of the dump at Muckaty, some of whom Mr Ferguson claims volunteered the land. Continue reading
Climate denialists bullying scientists
Bullying, Lies And The Rise Of Right-Wing Climate Denial Counter Currents, By Prof. Clive Hamilton, 22 Feb 2010, Australia’s most distinguished climate scientists have become the target of a new form of cyber-bullying aimed at driving them out of the public debate. Continue reading
India seeking to own uranium companies in Australia
Cos in overseas drive to tie up N-fuel supply- –The Economic Times 23 Feb 2010 MUMBAI: Indian companies such as Essar, the London-listed Vedanta and a subsidiary of shipmaker Varun Industries are scouting around for opportunities to explore and mine uranium in countries like Australia, Canada and parts of Africa…………..India’s biggest private sector company, had last year bought a 49% stake in a special purpose vehicle, or SPV, set up by a company called Uranium Exploration of Australia (UXA) which has licences to mine uranium at four locations in Australia…… RIL’s overseas arm — RIL Australia — is already in an exploration joint venture with Uranium Exploration Australia. UXA had said in the past year that RIL had committed to invest around $13 million following the agreement in late 2007.2007. Cos in overseas drive to tie up N-fuel supply- Power-Energy-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times
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