The mining and export of Australian uranium only digs us deeper into the unsolvable conundrum of nuclear waste - while also supporting the growth of nuclear weapons, the Australian Greens say.

Responding to comments this week by Australia’s Co-Chair of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, Gareth Evans, the Greens’ Nuclear Spokesperson Scott Ludlam said that no one had managed to solve the nuclear waste problem. (more…)

A Federal Bill that will apply a uniform royalty regime to all uranium mining projects in the Northern Territory will increase Aboriginal disadvantage, the Australian Greens say.

The Uranium Royalty (Northern Territory) Bill 2008, referred last year to the Senate Economics Committee, will be debated in the Senate today (Tues 8/9/2009).

“The inquiry revealed that the Rudd Government has become captured by the uranium mining industry and continues to follow the wishes of the Uranium Industry Framework, an unrepresentative and industry-dominated body created by the former Howard Government,” the Greens’ Nuclear Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam said.

“It also confirmed that the current ‘for-profit’ mining royalties system in the Northern Territory - which this Bill seeks to extend to uranium and other designated substances such as thorium - is failing Aboriginal people. (more…)

The decision of the Barnett government to lift the ban on uranium mining is an unconscionable grab for short-term wealth against the long-term interest of the community and the planet, says Greens MLC Paul Llewellyn.

“Even assuming that Australia can successfully refuse to accept nuclear waste back, this will not make it vanish into thin air.  This waste is still being generated and will create serious and ongoing health risks if not for us, then for other members of the international community.

“It is morally wrong to feed into an industry that will generate a toxic waste that no-one is prepared to take responsibility for. (more…)

The granting of exploration approval for the Angela Pamela uranium project near Alice Springs raises the stakes in what is set to be a major confrontation between the uranium mining industry and the wider community, say the Australian Greens.

“Uranium mining anywhere is a tragedy. Uranium mining in the Alice Springs groundwater catchment is a travesty,” said Senator Scott Ludlam.

“I am surprised the Paladin/Cameco consortium is so willing to pick a fight with one of Australia’s most tight-knit and self-reliant communities, who have already formed the Alice Springs Angela Pamela group (ASAP), made up of medical professionals, environmental specialists, indigenous peoples and community activists. (more…)

On Thursday morning Senator Scott Ludlam will be presented with a message from Fremantle Mayor Peter Tagliaferri - Western Australia’s only Mayor for Peace - to deliver to the Mayor of Hiroshima next week.

8.45am Thursday, 31 July 2008

Foyer area of Pavilion Three,
Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre
Mounts Bay Road, Perth.

“I am proud to take a message of peace to Mayor Akiba on behalf of Mayor Tagliaferri, who is the only Western Australian member of Mayors for Peace - a global network of 2,300 mayors and their cities working towards the total abolition of nuclear weapons,” Senator Ludlam said. (more…)

The Rudd Government is about to ditch a key election promise as Martin Ferguson moves to foist a nuclear waste dump onto the Northern Territory.

The Labor Party promised Northern Territory electors it would repeal Howard’s nuclear waste dump legislation in the heat of their election campaign,” said Senator Rachel Siewert today.

“Now Mr Ferguson is telling the Territorians that they have to have it anyway.

“Martin Ferguson is claiming the dump will only be used to store Australian nuclear waste – but how can we now trust the ALP to break one promise yet keep another?” asked Senator Siewert.

“This decision is opening the flood-gates to this toxic industry.

“Australians have a right to feel betrayed by this kind of sneaky double-dealing,” concluded Senator Siewert.

A Global Greens secretariat, to exchange information between the world’s 80 Greens parties, is likely to be established in Australia, Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said in Sao Paulo today.

The Second Global Greens Congress voted Sunday morning in Sao Paulo, Brazil to adopt the Australian initiative for the secretariat, subject to final plans being approved in March 2009. (more…)

Greens Senator Christine Milne will attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali for the second, high-level, week of the negotiations, in her capacity as Vice President of the IUCN, the World Conservation Union.

Senator Milne will be appearing at several key side events, including:
•    CIFOR global forests day, Dec 8;
•    Launch of the Global Gender and Climate Alliance, Dec 11; and
•    Heinrich Boll side event on nuclear power, Dec 13.

This will be Senator Milne’s fifth international climate conference and she is happy to comment on any aspect of the negotiations.

Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne today said that http://GreensBlog.org, the official blog of the Australian Greens Senators and their staff, has become a huge success, gaining great momentum throughout the election campaign.

Senator Milne said “GreensBlog has become a tremendously successful way for the Greens to get our message out and hold conversations with people across Australia, and indeed the whole world. (more…)

The Greens have today warned voters not to be fooled by the major parties’ silence over uranium exports.

“Nuclear is the elephant in the room. Despite the notable silence on uranium from both major parties, voters ought to be worried about Australia’s rapidly growing involvement in the global nuclear industry,” Greens Senate candidate Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

“Just like his evasion over his WorkChoices laws at the last election, Prime Minister Howard’s nuclear agenda of reactors, enrichment and waste dumps is ready to go on November 25. (more…)