More info soon on Perth visit by Ruben HURRICANE Carter for justicewa.com M/while enjoy sm cool Jail Blues here http://ping.fm/28ac7

Testing ping.fm on iPhone.

Uranium and Nuclear Industry swings big club, claims opposition are “cavemen” leaves major questions UNANSWERED

How are we to believe that people who make huge amounts of money digging up and selling uranium are “experts?”

The article below seems to take the claim at face value and totally ignores ALL of the unanswered questions.

It’s time for nuclear power: “experts”

Cathy Alexander  July 15, 2009 – 4:49PM

Australia should drop the “caveman” approach to electricity and build some nuclear power stations, experts say.

The uranium industry is booming, with the federal government approving a new mine for South Australia on Tuesday. Full article here  http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/its-time-for-nuclear-power-experts-20090715-dlac.html

Meanwhile, real experts who have no VESTED interests are not mentioned! See the lionk below for some counterbalance.

See here for stories on Uranium Mining and Nuclear Power plants from Greens (WA) Senator Scott Ludlum, former Senator Jo Vallentine and video/audio from other sources such as Greenpeace

Click here for information from BUMP, ( Ban Uranium Mining Permanently )

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tony serve blogs Uranium mine given not-so-green light by fallen activist Peter Garrett, Greens say his Beverley decision is ‘delusional’

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tony serve blogs

I found this fascinating quote today:

The captain of the anti-whaling ship, the Steve Irwin, has been arrested in Portugal on an outstanding 30-year-old arrest warrant.tony serve blogs, Jun 2009

You should read the whole article.

Australian minerals not to be owned by Chinese Government. Concerns but also opportunities in BHP/Rio Tinto Joint Venture

Robin Chapple MLC for the Mining and Pastoral Region

Email robin.chapple@mp.wa.gov.au

Relief that Australian minerals not to be owned by Chinese Government

The news that a significant proportion of Australia’s mineral wealth will not be owned by the Chinese government is welcome news, Greens (WA) MLC Robin Chapple said today.

“20 years and one day ago today the tanks and troops of the autocratic Chinese Government moved into Tiananmen Square and brutally crushed a grassroots democracy movement.” Mr. Chapple said.

“This is the same government, responsible for 2600 deaths that day and guilty of so many human rights abuses before and since, that would have become an 18 per cent shareholder in Rio Tinto through its wholly owned company, Chinalco.”

“For the Chinalco deal to have proceeded would have been a black day for ethical investment in Australia.”

Concerns but also opportunities in BHP/Rio Tinto Joint Venture.

Of the BHP-Rio Tinto Joint Venture that will succeed the failed deal, Mr. Chapple said that he was concerned that job losses could result from the merging of some operations but that any reduction in overlapping infrastructure was positive for the environment.

“Obviously I am concerned that job losses might result as BHP and Rio move to eliminate parallel operations. However the synergies of this joint venture will also result in greater sharing of infrastructure, especially rail. A reduced need to expand mining infrastructure can only be good news for the vulnerable ecologies affected by mining operations statewide.”

“BHP and Rio Tinto have a real opportunity to substantially shrink their environmental footprint, if this joint venture is managed appropriately.”

Mr. Chapple said that he agreed with Colin Barnett’s statement that royalty concessions currently enjoyed by Rio Tinto and BHP now needed to be reviewed in light of the joint venture, but said that this should not jeopardise the sharing of infrastructure.

Greens Member for the

Mining & Pastoral Region

PO Box 94
West Perth
Western Australia 6872

Email Robin.Chapple@mp.wa.gov.au

Portfolios:Energy & Climate Change; Mines and Petroleum; State Development & Industry; Nuclear Energy; Local Government; Waste Management; Ports; Pastoral Issues; Aboriginal Issues; Racing and Gaming; and Regional Sustainability.

Australian minerals not to be owned by Chinese Government. Concerns but also opportunities in BHP/Rio Tinto Joint Venture

Robin Chapple MLC for the Mining and Pastoral Region

Email robin.chapple@mp.wa.gov.au

Relief that Australian minerals not to be owned by Chinese Government

The news that a significant proportion of Australia’s mineral wealth will not be owned by the Chinese government is welcome news, Greens (WA) MLC Robin Chapple said today.

“20 years and one day ago today the tanks and troops of the autocratic Chinese Government moved into Tiananmen Square and brutally crushed a grassroots democracy movement.” Mr. Chapple said.

“This is the same government, responsible for 2600 deaths that day and guilty of so many human rights abuses before and since, that would have become an 18 per cent shareholder in Rio Tinto through its wholly owned company, Chinalco.”

“For the Chinalco deal to have proceeded would have been a black day for ethical investment in Australia.”

Concerns but also opportunities in BHP/Rio Tinto Joint Venture.

Of the BHP-Rio Tinto Joint Venture that will succeed the failed deal, Mr. Chapple said that he was concerned that job losses could result from the merging of some operations but that any reduction in overlapping infrastructure was positive for the environment.

“Obviously I am concerned that job losses might result as BHP and Rio move to eliminate parallel operations. However the synergies of this joint venture will also result in greater sharing of infrastructure, especially rail. A reduced need to expand mining infrastructure can only be good news for the vulnerable ecologies affected by mining operations statewide.”

“BHP and Rio Tinto have a real opportunity to substantially shrink their environmental footprint, if this joint venture is managed appropriately.”

Mr. Chapple said that he agreed with Colin Barnett’s statement that royalty concessions currently enjoyed by Rio Tinto and BHP now needed to be reviewed in light of the joint venture, but said that this should not jeopardise the sharing of infrastructure.

Greens Member for the

Mining & Pastoral Region

PO Box 94
West Perth
Western Australia 6872

Email Robin.Chapple@mp.wa.gov.au

Portfolios:Energy & Climate Change; Mines and Petroleum; State Development & Industry; Nuclear Energy; Local Government; Waste Management; Ports; Pastoral Issues; Aboriginal Issues; Racing and Gaming; and Regional Sustainability.

2009-06-05 BHP-Rio JV.docx

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2009 ANNOUNCEMENT – Plastic bag ban, target set!

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2009 ANNOUNCEMENT

Today June 5th 2009 marks the tolling of official death knell of the plastic shopping bag.

The Greenhouse Neutral Foundation and its many friends and allies all around the world on Saturday September 26 2009 will call for the world to BAN THE BAG. Our vision will be that by the turn of the clock at midnight on December 31st 2010 they will be BANNED forever globally.

The STOPlasticBags campaign will demand government action, Company and business commitment and consumer support to eradicate what has become a profligate plague of our current times.

For more information on the campaign please visit the Foundations web site blog page at http://www.greenhouseneutral.net/blog.asp

Media Contact:
Bob Williamson
Founder and Chair
Greenhouse Neutral Foundation
+61 8 9295 6035

Related articles by Zemanta

• METRO to charge five cents per shopping bag in its Ontario and Quebec stores starting tomorrow (newswire.ca)

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2009 ANNOUNCEMENT – Plastic bag ban, target set!

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2009 ANNOUNCEMENT

Today June 5th 2009 marks the tolling of official death knell of the plastic shopping bag.

The Greenhouse Neutral Foundation and its many friends and allies all around the world on Saturday September 26 2009 will call for the world to BAN THE BAG. Our vision will be that by the turn of the clock at midnight on December 31st 2010 they will be BANNED forever globally.

The STOPlasticBags campaign will demand government action, Company and business commitment and consumer support to eradicate what has become a profligate plague of our current times.

For more information on the campaign please visit the Foundations web site blog page at http://www.greenhouseneutral.net/blog.asp

Media Contact:

Prime Minister's Award

Bob Williamson
Founder and Chair
Greenhouse Neutral Foundation
+61 8 9295 6035

Related articles by Zemanta

• METRO to charge five cents per shopping bag in its Ontario and Quebec stores starting tomorrow (newswire.ca)

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Canadian Nuclear plant cost blowout revealed in binder left at TV station – don’t trust poliicians with uranium or nukes

Today’s big stories from the nuclear industry:

Reuters: Secret Canada nuclear papers left in TV studio

’OTTAWA, June 3 (Reuters) – Senior Canadian officials left a binder full of confidential nuclear documents in a television studio and made no attempt to retrieve them, the TV network involved said on Wednesday. The incident is likely to increase pressure on the minority Conservative government, already under fire for its handling of the economic crisis. The main opposition Liberal Party said on Tuesday it would decide next week whether to try to bring down the Conservatives in Parliament. The binder was found in a CTV television studio after a visit by Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt. CTV, which kept the binder for six days before breaking the news, said the documents showed the government would spend far more money on a troubled nuclear reactor than it had acknowledged.’

Perth people check this image for news of a big event in Subiaco starting at 6 this evening (Friday)

Ban Uranium Mining Permanently

Perth People gather to Ban Uranium Mining Permanently in Western Australia – come join us at the B.U.M.P. Launch – Friday June 5th, 6-8pm

The Anti-Nuclear Alliance of W.A. wish to warmly invite you to our BUMP, Ban Uranium Mining Permanently, Launch on World Environment Day.

Please pass this on to your networks. Look forward to seeing you there Subiaco 6-8pm !

Kind Regards, Kate Vallentine ANAWA Campaigner

www.anawa.org.au

bump launch invitation.pdf

image004

image002

People Planet Peace

Stop Uranium Mining in Western Australia

Ban Uranium Mining Permanently – Invitation to the BUMP Launch – June 5th, 6-8pmTony Serve, People Planet Peace, May 2009

You should read the whole article.

Another Uranium Mine planned for Western Australia, BHP yet to adress; safety, environment, destination

Please click the pic for the audio

Media release from Greens WA Senator Scott Ludlum

For audio of Sen Ludlum covering the risks of this move – click the pic to the left

Nuclear proponents are playing down the vast environmental impacts and health risks of allowing uranium mine in WA, the Australian Greens say.

“The latest proposal by BHP Billiton for a mine at Yeelirie, 550 kilometres east of Geraldton, would employ at most 700 people for a period of two years, after which the proponents say it would employ less half that number, all of whom will be fly-in, fly-out,” Greens Nuclear Spokesman Senator Scott Ludlam said.

“This is a relatively small number of new jobs, especially compared to renewable energies such as solar, which has created lasting employment for 250,000 people in Germany.

“In its referral document to the Federal Department of Environment, BHP revealed that through an on-site leaching process, the proposed mine would produce 110 million tonnes of radioactive waste.

“It proposes that this huge amount of rock and sludge would be stored at the mine site in an open pit or tailings dam, where it would remain dangerously radioactive for tens of thousands of years.

Image via Wikipedia

“This means that once the mine opens, mine workers and anyone else in the area would be at risk on windy days of breathing in dust or radon gas blown off the tailings. These radioactive materials greatly increase the risk of cancer if ingested.

“BHP says 10,000 hectares of mostly well vegetated land would be disturbed by the mine and this area is home to six threatened animal species, 11 migratory birds and a number of rare and priority-listed plant species.  The site experiences intense rain at times, causing water to flow in sheets off the proposed mine site towards nearby lakes.

“Bearing in mind that the Federal Government recently admitted that 100,000 litres of contaminated groundwater is seeping from tailings at Ranger uranium mine into Kakadu each day, the potential impact of large-scale dewatering of the mine site at Yeelirie combined with heavy downpours is alarming.

“The mine’s yellowcake product is proposed to be taken inside sealed drums on existing roads from Yeelirie to a “secure” rail facility near Kalgoorlie and then by train to Adelaide and then Darwin before going overseas.

“If we count this with the vast amount of embedded energy that goes into building a nuclear reactor, it is hard to see how anyone can possibly describe this industry as a low-carbon solution to greenhouse gas emissions,” Senator Ludlam said.

“However, this large amount of overland travel within Australia raises another concern. According to the Federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport, there are more than 2,000 serious truck accidents on WA roads each year, while the Australian Transport Safety Bureau reports there are on average more than 35 serious train derailments and collisions annually in WA.

“Yellowcake powder, or uranium oxide concentrate, is the consistency of talcum powder – so should a serious road or rail collision occur, people using the same transport routes or living nearby would be at risk of breathing in the dust. This could be disastrous for their health.

“The direct risks to health from this proposed mine are serious enough to rule it out.

“In the 10 years since multinational, Pangea, was in Australia lobbying hard for the establishment of an international nuclear waste here, the global nuclear industry has still not developed a solution to its waste problem.

“If a uranium mine opens in WA, WA can once again expect international pressure to take global nuclear waste.”

For more information or media enquiries please call Eloise Dortch on 0415 507 763

Image via Wikipedia

Related articles by Zemanta

• BHP & Rio Tinto to extract billion dollar contracts as well as uranium (mystockvoice.wordpress.com)
• Thorp plant may close for years (guardian.co.uk)
• Three Mile Island at 30: Nuclear Power’s Pitfalls (time.com)

tony serve blogs

Uranium Mines planned for Western Australia despite public oppostion and critical faults in arguments by the big miners:

Thanks to Mark Winter  (frostyfae.wordpress.com ) for the heads-up and his ongoing activism. Also see nouranium.wordpress.com for more info,  YouTube video and ways to have your say about the mine that will start at Wiluna next yearPlease visit WA’s peak anti-uranium group  http://www.anawa.org.au/ and get involvedtony serve blogs, Apr 2009

You should read the whole article.

Uranium Mining in WA isn’t even viable, let alone not being safe, green, or necessary! Jo Vallentine exposess some hard realities.

Uranium Mining in WA isn’t even viable.

let alone not being safe, green, or necessary!

Uranium simply isn’t worth the risk

Former Senator and long time Activist Jo Vallentine loooks at some hard realities.

MEDIA  RELEASE

Uranium Mining companies in a race to nowhere

Despite all the hype about getting a uranium mine operating in Western Australia, the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of W.A. believes that  itís all talk, and a lot of investorsí money being frittered away on an unwinnable contest, according to spokesperson, Jo Vallentine.

Toro Energy is hoping to get Lake Way developed, Mega uranium is betting on getting  the Lake Maitland deposit up and running, BHPBilleton is talking up the prospects of proceeding with their Yeelirri deposit. Without either regulatory or transport, or water usage frameworks in place.

All these companies need to take a reality check.

While the Barnett government is keen to promote any kind of mining at any cost, so many questions remain unanswered about the highly controversial mining of uranium, which everyone knows is in a different category from any other mining, because of the radiaoactivity involved, and potentially released, at all stages of the process.

On top of those doubts,  fundamental questions remain  regarding water resources in dry areas surrounding Willuna, Meekatharra and Leinster, where is that amount of clean water going to come from?

(uranium mining is a water guzzling operation  Roxby Downs consumes 35 million litres per day!)

Where and how would the yellowcake be transported, and to which railheads and ports to be shipped away?  Kalgoorlie?  Not a popular idea there, with the local mayor already having said he was not impressed with the idea.  ( click here for TV news story on Kalgoorlie rejecting Uranium transit )

Geraldton?  Is that what the nearby proposed Okajee port is all about?  A discreet railway, just for getting the yellowcake out of the state?

Globally, with Presidents Obama and Medvedev committing to massive reductions in the nuclear weapons count, a great deal of processed nuclear weapons grade material will be flooding the international market  soon, thus lowering the price for yellowcake.

Investors would be better served by putting their money into certainty for the future via the  renewable energy sector, rather than gambling their money andf our safety on a loser.

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Indonesia rules out Nuclear Power/ Obama winds back Nuke weapons- Western Australia must re-instate uranium and nuclear power bans!

Image via Wikipedia

Indonesia goes cold on nuclear power | watoday.com.au .

INDONESIAN President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono yesterday backed away from a plan to build a nuclear reactor in one of the world’s most seismically active countries.

Dr Yudhoyono said Indonesia would develop existing energy sources and explore renewable alternatives before pursuing the nuclear option.

He announced the decision in response to a question at a stage-managed “town hall meeting” with voters in Central Java, where the nuclear power plant was to have been built.

The event marked the last day of open campaigning before Indonesians vote for almost 12,000 candidates for the national parliament on Thursday.

“In 10 years to come, or 20 years or 30 years to come, Indonesia must really develop its existing resources and these should be environmentally friendly,” he said, adding that water and wind power options would also be explored. “If there are still other alternatives, we will not take nuclear resources.”

Analysts such as Professor Richard Tanter from RMIT University had been expecting that Indonesia could move to approve up to four nuclear power plants on the Muria Peninsula in the north of Central Java province once the country’s elections had finished this year.

2 things leap out at you from the story.

First, people don’t want nuclear power stations.

Second, Australian “experts” on nuclear power got it wrong again.

The Western Australian Government of Colin Barnett will pay at the ballot box for uranium and Nuclear plans. Liberal & Nationals will lose seats and the velcro coalition will fall apart.

It’s not like there isn’t a better way. Clean, job generating, localised, renewable energy is there and it just takes doing.

Colin Barnett WILL change his mind because he’s a reasonable man.  We simply need to show him and the W.A. Business world that renewables are better business, even if they don’t serve the Big End of town ( read – global nuclear interests )

Any volunteers to do some sums and gather global info. Has anyone done a  cost-benefit analysis?

Mr Burns - nuclear nightmare!

Ironically, this man is NOT Mr Burns

Uranium news – safety, cost and environmental issues in Western Australia

More to follow, but for now consider the item below from Senator Scott Ludlum as we prepare for WA’s first uranium mine under Colin Barnett’s nuclear plan.

I said hi to Colin at last night’s youth awards, he’s a decent bloke and I plan to speak to him soon about a better way to go. Safer, cheaper, online faster, better for WA industry and workers.

He’s a reasonable man, we just need to present the alternatives in a clear concise way – not just for the Premier, but for ourselves and those we hope to persuade.

Please comment, send material, guest post and join the discussion we need to have – Toro Energy breaks earth at their Wiluna Uranium Mine in just over a year.

- tony

Wind back uranium sales to China: Greens

Image via Wikipedia

Suggestions by the Federal Resources Minister today that Australia should increase its uranium sales to China display an explosive mix of recklessness and ignorance, the Australian Greens say.

“Martin Ferguson’s comments on the ABC’s AM program this morning are completely out of step with national interest and public opinion,” Greens nuclear issues spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said.

“China is a nuclear weapons state with no separation between military and civil nuclear facilities.

“Increasing exports of Australian uranium simply frees up other supplies for weapons programs.

“Ferguson has once again revealed his true colours. The sale of uranium to China is a Howard-era mistake which the Prime Minister should reverse.

“The world uranium price has plummeted during the past 12 months. The Minister is seemingly unaware that the nuclear arms reduction treaties under discussion by the US and Russia will further weaken the market if weapons-grade uranium comes onto the fuel market as happened in the 1990s.

“Frankly, we need a Resources Minister who can advocate for the public interest rather than working as a taxpayer-funded salesman for Rio Tinto and BHP.

“The Greens say that Australia should withdraw from John Howard’s 2006 deal with China on the basis of: China’s failure to comply with Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty disarmament obligations; its failure to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty; and its failure to separate its military and civilian nuclear sectors.”

Media enquiries please call Eloise Dortch on 0415 507 763

Conservation Council WA – Conservation Week

Conservation Week is the largest community focused environmental event in Western Australia that celebrates WA’s unique environment and promotes action towards building a sustainable future.

The aim of Conservation Week is to highlight issues facing the environment in WA and to celebrate the work of conservation organisations, community groups and individuals all across the State.

It’s a great opportunity to showcase your group or organisation and the fantastic work local communities are doing to protect the environment and communicate the importance of environmental protection.

via Conservation Council WA – Conservation Week.

Energy for the Future – Western Australia. Event on March 2nd

Image by Stuck in Customs via Flickr

Perth event on energy tonight in Subiaco click here Energy For The Future for brochure

Giz Watson: MLC for The Greens in North Metro, and Paul Wilkes: Curtin University research geophysicis

( in the shadow of Colin Barnett’s planned Nuclear Power Plants)

Uranium Mine to start construction next year!!!! It’s time to speak up, unless you like yellowcake on your roads rail and in ports.

A Uranium Mine is due to start construction next year at Wiluna in Western Australia.

( hat tip to Robin Chapple MLC-elect for the info )

Click the blue link for the media release by Toro Energy Ltd Uranium Mine starts construction next year!

Premier Colin Barnett‘s unilateral move to allow Uranium mining in WA and back nuclear power stations is now bearing poisoned fruit.

Premier Colin Barnett hijacks mining approvals – now confirmed a

►

The dangerous move comes despite a majority of people in WA having long held and well founded concerns about safety, cost & viability compared to renewables, and the global issues of nuclear proliferation waste storage.

This news comes a day after the Premier and the Mines Minister admitted they are changing state approval rules to give themselves sole rights.

After misleading the media and ordinary west australians with slimy denials a week ago, Colin Barnett and Norman Moore have been forced to admit they are hija

cking the entire approvals process.

Now they want us to TRUST THEM that mining uranium and building nuclear power stations will be fine!

Now, many Liberal MP’s will have to toe the line despite representing people who don’t want a bar of this, and Brendon Grills will try to hold a restive Nationals group together so he can deliver on his promises of cash for the regions.

Well Mr Grylls ,the regions need cash of course, but they don’t need yellowcake on the transport grid and they don’t need the agonising wait to see which lucky region gets the nuclear power plants and uranium waste dumps. Local Government beware!

This move is bad for WA businesses because cheaper, safer renewable energies would create more WA jobs and internal trade without risk.

The challenge is now for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to stand up for its members and the rest of the state and tell the Barnett Government to back off, just as he backed away from the Water Canal. (which was a much smarter idea than nuclear power stations and selling yellowcake to India.)

The disaster at the Veranus Island plant cost WA business and taxpayers  a huge amount of time and money – an inevitable disaster  involving nukes and yelowcake will make Veranus look like a backyard barbecue, and its consequences may last for thousands of years.

Write email, text, phone your local MP, council and business group to ask, where will the waste go?

Where will the nuclear powers stations be sited?

and remind them that Esperance lead and Veranus gas disasters happened despite repeated assurances from Miners and Explorers that they were SAFE.

See the information in the sidebars of this blog for ways you can speak up through letters and talkback.

Please share this article, especially to people under 50 who don’t have the memory of Sir Charles Court‘s nuclear plans being rejected by a well informed public in the 70′s.

Guest posts and comments are most welcome.

You can subscribe to this blog by clicking the RSS icon, sharing it through DIGG and other social networks will help raise the alarm too. This is not a drill, they break ground next year, we must act now.

GLOWING REPORTS on NUCLEAR POWER from YOUR A.B.C.

West Australian Govt lies about cutting scrutiny of Uranium & other projects – Greens WA’s MLC elect Robin Chapple speaks out – we all need to speak out or suffer the consequences

Robin Chapple Greens WA MLC elect warns on hijack of approvals

Click the above link for short interview. Phone numbers, SMS and email for talkback to follow.

Premier Colin Barnett hijacks mining approvals – now confirmed a

►

From Perth’s Sunday Times ( supporting documents to be posted soon.)

More leaked documents add to drama

Article from:
Narelle Towie, environment reporter

March 28, 2009 04:28pm

MORE leaked documents have cast doubt on statements made this week by the State Government about proposed changes to mining approvals.

Last weekend The Sunday Times reported that a government-appointed industry working group (IWG) – tasked with devising a plan to streamline and speed-up mining approvals – favoured moves to dilute the power and role of the Environment Minister among other far-reaching changes.
The next day the Minister for Mines and Petroleum Norman Moore stated that a leaked document referred to in the newspaper report was not produced by the IWG.

He said the document, marked confidential, was a submission to the IWG by industry associations.

He said it had not yet been properly considered by the IWG or the government.

The Sunday Times has ascertained that the document was the end product of a workshop involving key members of the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA).

The workshop, which also included at least one IWG member, took place in January and the document has been the focus of much attention by the IWG.

Moreover, further leaked documents show recommendations in the confidential report have been adopted by the IWG – in some parts, word-for-word – and are at odds with the Minister’s statement.

- See both group’s recommendations
- See more recommendations
- See the lead agency model submitted to the industry working group

Up until yesterday Mr Moore and his media advisor were insisting there was “no draft report or draft recommendations.”

The Sunday Times has obtained a copy of the IWG’s “working draft report” dated March 6, which includes an executive summary and eight key recommendations.

The incomplete report proposes similar sweeping changes to how mining applications are processed, though no specific mention is made about the role of the Environment Minister.

Parts of the document’s recommendations appear to be copied almost verbatim from the workshop report the Minister insisted on Friday had not yet been “properly considered or endorsed” by the IGW.

A spokesman for Mr Moore yesterday confirmed the existence of the draft  – after a week of denials. He said the Minister was relying on advice from the IWG.

IWG chairman Peter Jones said there are working drafts within the group but the Minister doesn’t know anything about them.

Shadow Environment Minister Sally Talbot last night hit-out: “Last week Minister Moore denied that this report existed and now we have had it confirmed.

“We have a real fear that there is going to be a watering down of the authority for the Minister for the Environment,” she said.

Ms Talbot is calling on the government to come clean on what plans are being put together by the industry working group.

Mr Moore, who is due to receive the IWG’s recommendations in May, said there were several hurdles to be surmounted before any recommendations were implemented.

They would first be considered by him and a cabinet sub-committee before full Cabinet. And any legislative amendments would need the approval of parliament.

Mr Moore said he was aware IWG were considering transferring large parts of the Department of Environment and Conservation’s role to the independent Environment Protection Agency, which is currently an advisory body.

“I’m not sure that that is a good thing if you want the approvals process to move quickly,” Mr Moore said.

Mr Moore said he could not guarantee that the powers and the responsibilities of the Minister of Environment, when dealing with approvals processes, will not be diminished at all by the reforms being considered.

“It is not within my power to provide cast-iron guarantees about issues of this nature. The granting or relinquishing of Ministerial power is a matter for Cabinet and Parliament. That said, the aim of this exercise is not to diminish the level of scrutiny applying to the environmental conditions related to mining approvals,” he said.

MLC member for mining and pastoral region Robin Chapple said the IWG’s intentions were quite clear.

“The community at large must be very seriously concerned that the environmental controls and parameters that have been established over the years are going to done away with,” he said.

Robin Chapple Greens WA MLC elect warns on hijack of approvals