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growing mushrooms .....

 

growing mushrooms .....

from the glowing ABC …..

Labor critical of Switkowki's appointment

The Federal Opposition has criticised the Government's appointment of Ziggy Switkowski as chairman of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

Dr Switkowski led the Prime Minister's task force that recently examined the feasibility of a nuclear power industry in Australia.

Science Minister Julie Bishop says Dr Switkowski is the ideal choice to head ANSTO, as Australia considers nuclear power as an alternative to coal.

But Labor's Kim Carr is critical of the appointment.

"He is a man who has strong qualifications in nuclear engineering and in company management, however his recent report for the Prime Minister lends weight to the view that he will be pursuing an agenda by this Government, for this Government, to impose nuclear power upon Australia," he said.

Dr Switkowski says he will work with the board, Ms Bishop and her Department to ensure ANSTO serves Australia's interests well.

"ANSTO itself, I think, is well progressed in its thinking around all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle," he said.

"The fact that I now return as chairman will lead to a situation where the board will continue to be, I think, conversant with and in some cases quite expert in the areas of ANSTO, which is what you would want."

green glowing porkie by Switkowskee

From the ABC

Switkowski appointment shows Govt's nuclear plans: Greenpeace

Greenpeace says the appointment of Ziggy Switkowski as the chairman of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) confirms that the Federal Government plans to introduce nuclear power.

Dr Switkowski was appointed to the board of ANSTO last year, but stood aside after he became the head of the Prime Minister's inquiry into the viability of nuclear energy.

Dr Switkowski told ABC radio today ANSTO is well advanced in research into all aspects of the nuclear cycle.

Greenpeace's energy adviser Paul Cleary says that backs up his assessment.

"It's essentially the only place of nuclear expertise in Australia," he said.

"It claims that it is only there to produce medical isotopes, but in fact ANSTO is actually doing a lot more than that.

"It's already producing the silex technology which can basically be used for making backyard weapons if it falls into the wrong hands."

Dr Switkowski says the introduction of nuclear power will be not be integral to his role at ANSTO.

"There's no doubt that coming out of the nuclear review that one does form opinions about the applicability of nuclear power in Australia's strategic thinking," he said.

"Particularly in a future where greenhouse gas abatement is going to be a bit of a priority.

"But that doesn't translate into an agenda, and my personal goal will be to facilitate informed debate."

Not only in Aussieland

From the New York Times

WASHINGTON, July 30 — A one-sentence provision buried in the Senate’s recently passed energy bill, inserted without debate at the urging of the nuclear power industry, could make builders of new nuclear plants eligible for tens of billions of dollars in government loan guarantees.

Lobbyists have told lawmakers and administration officials in recent weeks that the nuclear industry needs as much as $50 billion in loan guarantees over the next two years to finance a major expansion.

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Gus: one can see here the subsidisation of a polluting industry against those like solar and wind... The US army, of course, does benefit from the nuclear industry as it provides the deplete uranium and the plutonium the army "needs" for its bombs... Thus lending public money, that most likely would never be repaid except via fiddles of governmental gymnastics, to expand the nuclear industry is part of the greatest con of them all...