How effective will be Burke's changes to the EPBC Act in "fixing" legislation to give power over impact on water?

Denis Wilson of The Nature of Robertson has written as follows:

The attached paper outlines various deficiencies which the Lock the Gate people are concerned about. These are the changes to the EPBC Act which Tony Burke has introduced (but which have not yet been debated).

With regard to their concern about the Bill not covering existing projects, I doubt that their proposed "fix" would survive a legal challenge. Their proposal would be categorised as "retrospective legislation" (as far as I understand the issues). But I am not a Lawyer, merely a former bureaucrat, and observer of things Political.

Still, I support what they are doing in this paper, namely identifying shortcomings in the Minister's proposal.

I am already on record as suggesting that it was little more than a "thought bubble" by the Minister, designed to gather headlines at a time when the Labor Party wanted to be seen to be doing something about CSG. 

• For example, if the Minister was concerned about CSG, why did he approve the Gloucester AGL plans about 2 weeks in advance of his introduction of these restrictions?

Policy making on the run is always going to be problematic.
So good on Lock the Gate for trying to tighten some of the loopholes.

Dale Hess's Calendar - 2013-02-25

 Monday 4 March and Thursday 7 March: Community Development Course. Learn practical ways of empowering communities; Understand the basic concepts of Community Development; Examine power and change processes; Discuss community development practices; Hold conversations with experienced Community Development workers; Access to further learning resources; Come to understand the field; Use the modes of head (intellect), heart (feelings), hands (practical work with people) and feet (groundedness). Led by Jim Ife,Jacques Boulet and Rob Nabben. Contact: 9819 3239, 2 Minona St, Hawthorn, icd@borderlands.org.au. Cost: $300 full / $250 con. Bookings essential.

Picture from here

Saturday 9 March, 1 pm to 2.30 pm: Reflections of a Fukushima Farmer- the reality of nuclear meltdowns. Japanese for Peace invites you to bring a picnic lunch (or grab something at CERES), a rug/chair, and come and hear about the current situation for those affected by the catastrophic events two years ago. If you think you may come, please email  info@jfp.org.au to give us an idea of numbers. There will also be an optional tour of Ceres afterwards at 2.30 pm. CERES Community Environment Park,At the Village Green, Cnr Roberts and Stewart Streets, Brunswick East, Victoria (MELWAYS Map 30 B7)

Thursday 14 March, 6 pm to 7.30 pm: Will foreign investment alleviate poverty in Burma? Recent reforms have seen resource rich Burma become an investment haven. Despite serious questions about human rights impact of foreign investment projects, Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr has declared that foreign investment will alleviate poverty in Burma. But will it? Hear Naing Htoo (Earthrights International), Seng Maw (Kachin Association Australia) and U Shwe Thein (Land Core Group) answer the question: Will foreign investment alleviate poverty in Burma? Venue:  AMWU Building, 251 Queensberry St, Carlton South, 3053. For more information contact Burma Campaign Australia

on 02 9264 7694 or admin@aucampaignforburma.org.

Friday 15 March, 6.15 pm for 6.30 pm – 9.15 pm: Film Screening:  Rachel.  It was 10 years ago that Rachel was killed by an Israeli bulldozer as she tried to stop it crushing a Palestinian home. This is the story of her tragic death and the people she had come to love. State Library of Victoria, Conference Centre, Entry 2, La Trobe Street, Melbourne. Cost $15 plus booking fee $1.89. Book online: http://www.eventbrite.com.au/event/4361336876?ref=ebtnebtckt#

Saturday 16 March – Sunday 24 March: Cultural Diversity Week. 

For details, see: 

http://www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/projects-and-initiatives/cultural-diversity-week

Tuesday 19 March: Following the US to War: Lessons from Iraq. Speakers will include Paul Barratt (Campaign for an Iraq War Inquiry); Dr Jenny Grounds(MAPW); Professor Richard Tanter; and Maki Yonaha (Japanese for Peace). Venue details soon!  For more read this. Facebook.

Wednesday 20 March & Thursday 21 March, 9 am – 5 pm, lunch and refreshments provided: Anti-racism Workshop.Refugees,Survivors and Ex-Detainees (RISE) is presenting a series of anti-racism workshops for organisations. The online registration form is up and running! Resisting Racism Victoria project, the first of its kind in Victoria, which will see the running of anti-racism workshops in 2013 for staff/volunteers of organisations that service communities of colour. Register online https://docs.google.com/a/riserefugee.org/forms/d/1lR0d5elFUl-zG_eNgMxin_J79thgPk-lY4pLh6xLFE8/viewform. Spaces filling fast! Find out more http://riserefugee.org/what-we-do/anti-racism. Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3HHEbT9djo.Please contact us at resistingracism@riserefugee.org if you have any questions. Later workshops 24 & 25 April, 22 & 23 May and 26 & 27 June. Melbourne CBD.

Friday March 29 to Sunday April 7:  Friends of the Earth's Radioactive Exposure Tour.  Register your interest now - places fill fast! These tours have exposed thousands of people first-hand to the realities of 'radioactive racism' and to the environmental impacts of the nuclear industry. After travelling from Melbourne to Adelaide we will head through Port Augusta and visit the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. Then we'll travel north to the SA desert, we'll visit BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam uranium mine at Roxby Downs, the largest uranium deposit in the world. While the expansion of Olympic Dam is currently shelved, the mine is still an environmental and social disaster in itself. The costs are: concession $500 ($450 from Adelaide); waged $750; solidarity $950. If cost is a barrier, contact the organisers to discuss funding ideas. If you're interested in joining in the 2013 Radioactive Exposure Tour, contact radexposuretour@gmail.com or call Gem on 0421 955 066. Information on Radioactive Exposure Tours in previous years is posted at www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/radtour

Register here- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGxZRUJlZ0xaMkpfU2loYm5INFdBblE6MQ

Friday 5 April and Monday 8 April: Advanced Community Development Course. Feel more confident in practicing community development in your workplace; Examine the issues, challenges and dilemmas of Community Development; Connect theory with practice; Hold conversations with decision makers and other Community Development workers; Access to further learning resources; Use the modes of head (intellect), heart (feelings), hands (practical work with people) and feet (groundedness); Think creatively about your organisational context; Interfacing with the wider context. Led by Jim Ife, Jacques Boulet and Rob Nabben. Contact: 9819 3239, 2 Minona St, Hawthorn, icd@borderlands.org.au. Cost: $350 full / $300 con. Both courses: $600. Bookings essential. 

Friday 19 April, 7 pm to 9 pm; Saturday 20 April – Sunday 21 April, 9 am to 5 pm: Biochar Workshop. As a soil additive, biochar offers numerous benefits. It increases the capacity for soil to hold water & nutrients, greatly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, enhance crop yields and capture and store carbon for the long term. Learn to make and operate a simple biochar reactor; produce a range of different biochars at different temperatures; carry out basic tests on your biochars; make biochar/compost/mineral blends.  Faciltators: Prof Stephen Joseph, University of NSW, Paul Taylor PhD, Author of “The Biochar Revolution”, and Russell Burnet, Biochar Energy Systems. Workshop cost – includes lunch both days & Friday evening intro: $195 before 1st April; $250 regular price. Only $149 for extra family member or partner. Venue: Friday night: Bendigo Bank Theatre at The Capital, 50 View Street, Bendigo; Saturday & Sunday: A1203 Goornong-Mayreef Rd, Elmore. Website: http://kynetontransitionhub.com/home-4/biochar/biochar-workshop/ 

Picture from here

Sunday 21 April – Saturday 27 April: Nonviolent Action from the Strategic to the Prophetic. For young, emerging activists (18-30) who feel deeply that the present order with its emphasis on dominance and economic expansion is unsustainable, and are ready to develop commitment and skills in nonviolent ways to help promote change, this is an opportunity to learn from two very experienced activists, Margaret Pestorius and Simon Reeves.

This course is subsidized and a special application form must be used:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jh2trfcr0dxyn5n/Nonviolent%20action%20%281%29.pdf.  The cost for full board & accommodation, plus materials, is $200. Participants will cover their own travel costs, to and from Silver Wattle Quaker Centre Ltd -1063 Lake Road, Bungendore NSW 2621 Ph: 02 6238 0588 

Saturday 4 May - Tuesday 28 May: The Walkatjurra Walkabout. The walk will continue to be a celebration of Wangkatja country, a testament to the strength of the community who have fought to stop uranium mining at Yeelirrie for over forty years, and a chance to come together and continue to share our commitment to a sustainable future without nuclear.  It is a chance to reconnect with the land, and to revive the tradition of walking for country. Register here to be a part of the walk:http://walkingforcountry.com/registration-to-walk-for-country/

Sunday 12 May – Sunday 19 May: Kanyini Intensive (working with Uncle Bob Randall and his family). 7-day intensive (Sunday to Sunday, plus travel time) retreat located with in the Uluru National Park and surrounds in the Northern Territory. This is a unique opportunity to receive teachings from Bob Randall on the principles of Kanyini and Aboriginal culture. This will be a profound experience towards integrity in cultural counter-flows, a re-alignment of the importance of personal spirituality, and towards acknowledgment of 70,000 years of Aboriginal knowledge and traditions. Uncle Bob will share his wisdom and belief that spirituality is the ultimate answer to reconciliation in Australia. Uncle Bob will share his wisdom on aspects of Kanyini including, connections with the dreaming, place, family relationships and the spirit. Teaching Kanyini and sharing Aboriginal culture, knowledge and spirituality with all Australians and beyond, are an integral part of Bob's vision. Further information: email info@oases.edu.au or call 03 9819 3502.

Coal seam gas, government & corporate deceit, extraction & water destruction - Southern Highlands, NSW

Networking friend, Denis Wilson, has forwarded this information.

It is a podcast of Alan Jones interviewing our mutual friend Peter Martin

who lives in Sutton Forest in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

The information in this is shocking - 

I would call it deceit on the part of the corporation and the NSW Govt.

Please listen here.

A $2 billion handout to wealthy mining companies that unnecessarily distorts Autralia's economy.

Print

News & media

Better ways to spend taxes than handouts to miners

March 22, 2012

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) supports any move to reform the wasteful, out-of-date fuel tax credit scheme, a $2 billion handout to wealthy mining companies that unnecessarily distorts our economy.

“Our cities are crying out for better transport, yet we give mining companies with record profits a $2 billion gift to keep driving their trucks,” said Charles Berger, Director of Strategic Ideas at ACF.

“This makes no policy or environmental sense. Make no mistake, this is mining companies receiving about $85 for every Australian man, woman and child.

At present, the federal government is spending about half as much money paying for businesses’ fuel as it does on funding our public schools.  How do we explain that to parents and teachers of those children?

“By removing this handout, we could put a significant dent in the cost of important policies like the disability insurance scheme, public dental cover for all Australians, or both parties’ parental leave schemes. Or we could of course spend that money on vital measures to reduce pollution in coming years,” said Mr Berger.

“The $2 billion mining companies receive annually is up from $1.2 billion in the 2005-06 financial year.  So during one of the greatest mining booms in history, miners have had access to an extra $800 million of taxpayers’ money.

“Just today, media reports predict iron ore exports will double by 2016-17. This is not an industry that needs our help, or our handouts.

“While hard-working Australians in the fast-growing western suburbs of Melbourne and Sydney, who have minimal access to public transport, pay 33 cents per litre in tax on petrol just to get to work, their taxes help businesses get it for next to nothing,” Mr Berger said.

“This is $2 billion dollars of taxpayer money that could be much better spent elsewhere."

Further reading:

Sparse transport adds to health woes

Dale Hess - Calendar - 20111116-201124

Wednesday 16 November, 5.30 pm – 8 pm: Food Security Issues in Timor-Leste. 

The forum will address food security issues, including agricultural practices, climate, imports, skills, quality of seeds and many other issues The Keynote Speaker will be Dr Brian Palmer, former Agriculture Adviser to the President, Minister for Agriculture and ‘Seeds for Life’ Manager. He will be joined by two panel members: Dr Bev Wood Food Security Adviser and expert on food security issues David Adams Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment who will address land cover and land use issues. Venue: Edinburgh Gardens Community Room - Off Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy (Old Fitzroy Football Ground—Melway Reference 2C 1C). The forum will be webcast live on the evening from 6:15 pm at http://timorlive.vlga.org.au. For catering purposes please RSVP to Gary Jungwirth, Timor-Leste Project Officer by Friday 11 November 2011 via email, vlga@vlga.org.au or phone 9349 7999.

Wednesday 16 November, 6.15 pm doors; 6.30 pm start:  Traditional owners speak out against BHP. 

Public Forum + Q & A Discussion with National and International traditional owners:Peter Watts (Arabunna), Donna Jackson (Larrakia Nation), Richard Evans (Koara Gwa-da Tribal Leader), Felipe Ustate from Manatial Columbia; Campaigners: Mia Pepper (CCWA), Dave Sweeney(ACF).  Come along to meet & hear from traditional owners who are fighting to protect their homelands from being mined by BHP Billiton. Also meet the people, who work closely with traditional owners, in building the campaigns and public awareness on the environmental & health affects caused by mining coal & uranium. There will be a Q & A panel of Traditonal owners, who will be entering the BHP Billiton Annual general meeting on the 17th of Nov. Find out who BHP Billiton are and what they do to make their billions. 

Thursday, 17 November, 6:30 pm: Ending Conflict: Challenging the Signature of Peace and Democracy.  

Speaker: Prof. Adrian Little, University of Melbourne. Why does the resolution of conflict play such a significant role in the operation of contemporary politics? Why is it assumed that the normative basis on which most ‘normal’ societies operate is devoid of the kinds of conflict that permeate societies with a less cohesive foundation? This lecture analyses the assumption that the absence of conflict is a normative good for any society and questions why the lack of such conflict is assumed to be the foundation of a stable political environment. In so doing it investigates the many presuppositions and assumptions that underpin these normative perspectives and the ways in which they have developed within the literature on peace and conflict resolution in societies such asNorthern Ireland. Simultaneously, it challenges the reception given to events such as the riots in theUK in 2011 as aberrant from the regular functioning of society. Venue: Public Lecture Theatre, OldArts Building, The University of Melbourne, Parkville. Admission is free. Bookings are required. Seating is limited. To register visit: http://alumni.online.unimelb.edu.au/adrianlittle. For further informationplease contact Tamsin Courtney: Email: tamsinc@unimelb.edu.au; Tel: 8344 8985.

Tuesday 22 November, 6:30 pm: Book Launch: At the scene of the crime: essays, reflections and poetry on East Timor, 1999 – 2010 by Pat Walsh. 

Pat Walsh, the author, worked in East Timor during the new nation's first ten years. The book is a miscellany of his writings from this enthralling period. Tim Lindsey (Malcolm Smith Professor of Asian Law, University of Melbourne) will launch the book and will comment on the prospects of justice for East Timor from Indonesia, a topic explored in the book. Venue: Travellers Bookstore, 294 Smith St, Collingwood, Melbourne. RSVP & enquiries: Claire Woods. E: claire@travellersbookstore.com.au; T: (03) 9417 4179.

Tuesday 22 November – Wednesday 23 November: Ethics in a Multifaith Society: Muslims and Christians in Dialogue. 

The conference “Ethics in a multifaith society: Muslims and Christians in Dialogue” is held in honour of M. Fethullah Gülen, from whom the Australian Catholic University Chair in the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic Relations, established in 2007, takes its name. For Fethullah Gülen, dialogue between Jews, Christians and Muslims is imperative, not only because of what followers of these three monotheistic religions have in common, but also because of their shared responsibility to make our world a more peaceful and safer place. Australian CatholicUniversity, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy.  Conference Program (PDF, 1.25MB); Conference Registration (PDF, 472KB);  Conference Poster (PDF,3.75MB) 

Thursday 24 November, 7.30 pm: Morality & Climate Change: A Response to Cardinal Pell. 

Geoff Lacey, author of Sufficient for the Day: Towards a Sustainable Culture, will present a response to Cardinal Pell’s position. Study Centre of the Yarra Theological Union 34 Bedford Street Box Hill. Further info from Social Policy Connections: 9890 1077.

Dale Hess - Calendar - 2011108 to 201124

Tuesday 8 November, 6.30 pm:  Film screening: 'I Was Worth 50 Sheep'. 

Join us for an evening of learning and discussion with the opportunity to be part of creating change for Afghan women and girls. This is a compelling, award winning documentary film by Swedish filmmaker Nima Sarvestani that follows 16-year old Sabere's courageous actions to escape from and divorce her 55 year old, violent, Taliban husband of 6 years when she calls on the help and sanctuary of her family and a local Safe House in her desperate mission. Together, progress is made, however it becomes clear that this common pattern of abuse is about to be repeated as her young sister has been sold for 50 sheep. Venue: 1000 Pound Bend Cinema, 351 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Tickets: $20/$15 concession $25 solidarity ticket. Fingerfood and wine will be available for purchase. Bookings essential: Onnie: mok@connexus.net.au to pre-book your ticket. All funds raised will go to support women's projects of RAWA (http://www.rawa.org) and the Cooperation Center of Afghanistan (http://www.ccamazar.org).

Wednesday 9 November, 6.30 pm: Film Premiere: Dirt cheap 30 years on. 

An updated version of the 1980 film, Dirt Cheap, 30 years on...the story of uranium mining in Kakadu tells the story of how Ranger uranium mine was imposed on the Mirarr people in the late 1970s. The film also provides contemporary insight into the Mirarr's experience with Ranger and Jabiluka. The premiere will be inMelbourne on Wednesday November 9th at 6.30 at the State Library Theatrette with speakers including representatives from Gundjeihmi and the Environment Centre NT.

Wednesday 9 November, 6.30 pm: Prospects for Peace in Israel/Palestine. Kathy Kelly, 

nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, has been described as probably the most respected leader in the American peace movement.  Kathy has invested her life in search of non-military solutions to end wars, often at great personal cost. Kathy has lived in war zones, sharing the dangers with civilians in Nicaragua, Gaza, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Venue: Church of AllNations, 180 Palmerston Street, Carlton. $15 waged $10 unwaged (no need to book). Further info Simon: smoyle@gmail.com or Dale: d.hess@ozemail.com.au...

Thursday 10 November, 7.30 pm: Conversations with Kathy Kelly. Kathy Kelly, 

nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, has been described as probably the most respected leader in the American peace movement.  Kathy has invested her life in search of non-military solutions to end wars, often at great personal cost. Kathy has lived in war zones, sharing the dangers with civilians inNicaragua, Gaza, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Venue: Collins St Baptist Church, 174 Collins StMelbourne. $15 waged $10 unwaged (no need to book). Further info Simon: smoyle@gmail.com or Dale: d.hess@ozemail.com.au...

Friday 11 November, 6 pm  – Sunday 13 November, 4 pm: Transforming the world, Transforming ourselves: a weekend retreat with Kathy Kelly. Kathy Kelly, 

nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, has been described as probably the most respected leader in the American peace movement.  Kathy has invested her life in search of non-military solutions to end wars, often at great personal cost. Kathy has lived in war zones, sharing the dangers with civilians inNicaragua, Gaza, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Venue: Commonground, near Seymour, Victoria. $200 waged; $150 unwaged. Bookings essential, limited places. Registration now open. Further info contact Simon: smoyle@gmail.com or Dale: d.hess@ozemail.com.au...

Wednesday 16 November, 5.30 pm – 8 pm: Food Security Issues in Timor-Leste. 

The forum will address food security issues, including agricultural practices, climate, imports, skills, quality of seeds and many other issues The Keynote Speaker will be Dr Brian Palmer, former Agriculture Adviser to the President, Minister for Agriculture and ‘Seeds for Life’ Manager. He will be joined by two panel members: Dr Bev Wood Food Security Adviser and expert on food security issues David Adams Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment who will address land cover and land use issues. Venue: Edinburgh Gardens Community Room,Off Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy (Old Fitzroy Football Ground—Melway Reference 2C 1C). The forum will be webcast live on the evening from 6:15 pm at http://timorlive.vlga.org.au. For catering purposes please RSVP to Gary Jungwirth, Timor-Leste Project Officer by Friday 11 November 2011 via email, vlga@vlga.org.au or phone 9349 7999.

Wednesday 16 November, 6.15 pm doors; 6.30 pm start:  Traditional owners speak out against BHP. 

Public Forum + Q & A Discussion with National and International traditional owners:Peter Watts (Arabunna), Donna Jackson (Larrakia Nation), Richard Evans (Koara Gwa-da Tribal Leader), Felipe Ustate from Manatial Columbia; Campaigners: Mia Pepper (CCWA), Dave Sweeney(ACF).  Come along to meet & hear from traditional owners who are fighting to protect their homelands from being mined by BHP Billiton. Also meet the people, who work closely with traditional owners, in building the campaigns and public awareness on the environmental & health affects caused by mining coal & uranium. There will be a Q & A panel of Traditonal owners, who will be entering the BHP Billiton Annual general meeting on the 17th of Nov. Find out who BHP Billiton are and what they do to make their billions. 

Thursday, 17 November, 6:30 pm: Ending Conflict: Challenging the Signature of Peace and Democracy.  

Speaker: Prof. Adrian Little, University of Melbourne. Why does the resolution of conflict play such a significant role in the operation of contemporary politics? Why is it assumed that the normative basis on which most ‘normal’ societies operate is devoid of the kinds of conflict that permeate societies with a less cohesive foundation? This lecture analyses the assumption that the absence of conflict is a normative good for any society and questions why the lack of such conflict is assumed to be the foundation of a stable political environment. In so doing it investigates the many presuppositions and assumptions that underpin these normative perspectives and the ways in which they have developed within the literature on peace and conflict resolution in societies such asNorthern Ireland. Simultaneously, it challenges the reception given to events such as the riots in theUK in 2011 as aberrant from the regular functioning of society. Venue: Public Lecture Theatre, OldArts Building, The University of Melbourne, Parkville. Admission is free. Bookings are required. Seating is limited. To register visit: http://alumni.online.unimelb.edu.au/adrianlittle. For further informationplease contact Tamsin Courtney: Email: tamsinc@unimelb.edu.au; Tel: 8344 8985. 

Tuesday 22 November – Wednesday 23 November: Ethics in a Multifaith Society: Muslims and Christians in Dialogue. 

The conference “Ethics in a multifaith society: Muslims and Christians in Dialogue” is held in honour of M. Fethullah Gülen, from whom the Australian Catholic University Chair in the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic Relations, established in 2007, takes its name. For Fethullah Gülen, dialogue between Jews, Christians and Muslims is imperative, not only because of what followers of these three monotheistic religions have in common, but also because of their shared responsibility to make our world a more peaceful and safer place. Australian CatholicUniversity, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy.  Conference Program (PDF, 1.25MB); Conference Registration (PDF, 472KB);  Conference Poster (PDF,3.75MB)

Thursday 24 November, 7.30 pm: Morality & Climate Change: A Response to Cardinal Pell. 

Geoff Lacey, author of Sufficient for the Day: Towards a Sustainable Culture, will present a response to Cardinal Pell’s position. Study Centre of the Yarra Theological Union 34 Bedford Street Box Hill. Further info from Social Policy Connections: 9890 1077.