Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

South Australian families join class action over Maralinga radiation

Secrecy surrounding the disturbing rate of baby deaths and research suggesting fallout from tests blanketed the town despite being more than 600km from the Maralinga testing sites, warrants those families investigating claims as part of the class act,

100 South Australians join class action against Britain for Maralinga-related deaths Adelaide Now, BRYAN LITTLELY INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR, From: The Advertiser, March 01, 2010, SECRET records detailing the fate of dozens of babies born in the shadow of Maralinga’s nuclear testing hold the key to a case building as the state’s largest class action Continue reading

March 1, 2010 Posted by | legal, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

If Australia “goes nuclear” South Australia will get the radioactive waste dump

High-level nuclear waste will be created if Australia goes nuclear.But spent fuel rods would be kept underwater at the reactor site for 70 years and then buried one kilometres below ground.A site has already been identified for that dump _ Territorians might be pleased to known that it’s just across the border in South Australia.Group of 40 okays NT nuclear dump | Northern Territory News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | ntnews.com.au

February 27, 2010 Posted by | South Australia | , , , , , , , | 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

Olympic Dam uranium mine’s very costly accident

Olympic Dam accident may cost $228m Matt Chambers  The Australian  February 11, 2010 THE failure of a hoist at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine last October that sent a full skip of ore plummeting hundreds of metres was caused by a computer braking system fault and could cost the company more than $US200 million ($228.6m) in lost profit………
The October 2009 incident has rendered the Clark shaft unusable and sliced 75 per cent of capacity from the big mine at Roxby Downs in South Australia.

Olympic Dam accident may cost $228m | The Australian

February 11, 2010 Posted by | business, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

BHP’s uranium mine expansion will destroy Aboriginal heritage

Elder attacks Olympic Dam excavation plans ABC News 1 February 2010

Plans by BHP Billiton to excavate around its Olympic Dam mine in South Australia’s north have come under fire from a local Aboriginal elder. Continue reading

February 2, 2010 Posted by | aboriginal issues, South Australia | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cherie Blair will represent aboriginal nuclear victims in UK court case

Cherie Blair to work on SA compensation case ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 25 Jan 2010
The wife of the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will represent five Aboriginies seeking compensation for ill health caused by nuclear testing in South Australia’s outback during the 1950s. Continue reading

January 25, 2010 Posted by | legal, South Australia | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Roxby Downs uranium mine will blow out greenhouse gases

“All of our efforts to reduce emissions, to conserve energy, will be undone by just one company, one project” The Advertiser DAVID NOONAN, 20 Jan 2010


The science of climate change demands action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. BHP Billiton’s proposed new open-pit mine at Roxby Downs would blow out SA’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12 per cent. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dangers of radioactive uranium mill tailings

Potential hazards from uranium mill tailings League of individuals for the environment 11 Jan 2010

1994, Feb. 14 Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs, South Australia WMC Ltd. leakage of tailings dam during 2 years or more release of up to 5 million m3 of contaminated water into subsoil ?

Radionuclides contained in uranium tailings emit 20 to 100 times as much gamma-radiation as natural background levels on deposit surfaces. Gamma radiation levels decrease rapidly with distance from the pile.The radium-226 in tailings continuously decays to the radioactive gas radon-222, the decay products of which can cause lung cancer. Some of this radon escapes from the interior of the pile. Radon releases are a major hazard that continues after uranium mines are shut down….. Continue reading

January 11, 2010 Posted by | environment, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

South Australian govt will put BHP Billiton’s welfare ahead of environment?

“Is the Premier saying that no matter what environmental impact there may be, he is giving BHP the go-ahead to put the desal plant there?”

BHP insists Point lowley best for desalination plant Adelaide Now SARAH MARTIN

January 08, 2010

BHP Billiton says building its proposed desalination plant anywhere but Point Lowly on the Spencer Gulf would cost “hundreds of millions” more dollars.

The desal plant’s location has divided the State Government and the Opposition, with the latter calling for BHP to investigate an alternative site on the West Coast beyond Ceduna.

Labor member for Giles, Lyn Breuer, also wants the plant built elsewhere, saying the risk to the giant cuttlefish population in the gulf is too great. Continue reading

January 8, 2010 Posted by | environment, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Green energy from the grassroots in South Australia

The greening of SA’s councils Adelaide Now JILL PENGELLEY December 23, 2009 THINGS are greening up at the grassroots level. While climate change is debated on the world stage, local councils in South Australia are directing change………… Continue reading

December 24, 2009 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, South Australia | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sovereign rights of aboriginal people to South Australian land

sovereign-rights-exposed-south-australia-and-british-land-coverup-revealed-in-new-book/ – Coober Pedy Regional Times  23 Dec 09 A new book called “Coming to Terms – Aboriginal Title in South Australia”, edited by prominent lawyer Shaun Berg, has just been released. The book clearly exposes the enduring Sovereign land rights of indigenous people.  Continue reading

December 23, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, South Australia, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

South Australia’s history of land grab from aborigines

Book reveals SA land injustice BigPond News 21 Dec 09

A new book alleges South Australia was built on an unlawful land grab, which breached British laws protecting the rights of Aboriginal people.

The book, called Coming to Terms, says a rule requiring the settlers to obtain land from the indigenous people only with their consent was ignored.

It says by the end of 1836, the Aboriginal people had been stripped of all their land.

Former High Court justice Michael Kirby will launch the book in Adelaide.

Book reveals SA land injustice | National – Regional | Telstra BigPond News and Weather

December 22, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, South Australia, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Maralinga land still unsafe, radioactive?

Maralinga returned to traditional owners By Nance Haxton for PM stan prepa langues 19 Dec 09 “………………While the official authorities are reassuring the traditional owners that the land is now safe, there are still doubts. Mimma Smart says they have mixed emotions about the hand-back.”We’re still a bit concerned that this land is not real clean, it’s not safe,” she said.”I know it’s still dangerous. The radiation is still around on the trees and plants and buildings and the cement. Everything you touch you are going to get infected because the radiation is still on this land. It is a happy and a sad day

stan prepa langues: maralinga, uk’s nuclear playground

December 21, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, South Australia | | Leave a comment

Aborigines get tainted land back, but no compensation for cancers

Just as the Maralinga army veterans find no justice from the Australian government, in their fight for compensation for radiation-induced illness, so those surviving aborigines affected by the atomic tests still go unrecognised.

In the true tradition of British and Australian governments, it is hoped that they will just all die out and be forgotten.

It sounds fine for SA’s Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jay Weatherill  to claim that this land handover is the” final chapter of a 50-year struggle for justice.”  But it’s not – those victims of nuclear radiation are still there, and so are their children. The veterans are taking their case to Britain, particularly on behalf of their children and grandchildren. Why should the aboriginal  victims continue to be ignored, in the pretense that their health was not affected? Continue reading

December 18, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, South Australia | , , , , , | Leave a comment

South Australia: incentives for renewable energy

Tax break boost for solar, wind projects  ABC News Dec 16, 2009

A new renewable energy tax rebate has been announced and the South Australian Government hopes it will boost investment in the industry.

From next July, investors will get payroll tax rebates of up to $5 million for large solar energy projects and up to $1 million for wind power projects.

SA Premier Mike Rann says the rebates will help create jobs.

“We’re aiming to get 33 per cent of our power from renewables by 2020, but I also want to establish South Australia as the renewable energy hub for the eastern seaboard,” he said.

Tax break boost for solar, wind projects – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

December 17, 2009 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, South Australia | , , , , , | Leave a comment