The M i n i s t e r i a l  C o u n c il, c o m p risin g  S ta t e  and F e d e ra l M in isÂ­

t e r s ,  r e s p o n s ib le  f o r  d e c la r in g  b o u n d a rie s  and th e  d e c l a r Â­

a tio n  o f th e  n e x t s e c t i o n  o f th e  P ark  -  C a irn s  -  has n o t met

s in c e  A ugust 1980. I t  h a s  n o t been re -fo rm e d  s in c e  th e

e l e c t i o n s  and no Q ueensland ap p o in tm e n ts have been made.

Q ueensland h a s r e p e a te d ly  s t a t e d  i t  w ould n e v e r a llo w  any o f

the Q ueensland t e r r i t o r i a l  s e a  to  be p a r t  o f th e  P a rk ,

r e g a r d le s s  o f e n v iro n m e n ta l re a s o n s  to  d e c la r e  th e  P ark

to  th e  low w a te r m ark. A Q ueensland win means o i l  d r i l l i n g

co u ld  p ro cee d  in  th e  R eef a r e a  and r i s k  d e s tro y in g  la r g e

s e c tio n s  o f  th e  R e e f . Now w ith  th e  e l e c t i o n s  o v e r, QueensÂ­

la n d  i s  ta k in g  an even to u g h e r s ta n d  and th e r e  a r e  d o u b ts

i f  i t  w i l l  a llo w  th e  C a irn s  s e c ti o n  to  be d e c la re d  a t  a l l ,

r e g a r d l e s s  o f b o u n d a r ie s .

The two F e d e ra l M in is te r s  l i k e l y  to  r e p r e s e n t th e  CommonÂ­

w e a lt h 's  i n t e r e s t  on th e  M i n i s t e r i a l  C o u n c il, D avid ThompÂ­

son (S c ie n c e  and T echnology) and Ian  W ilson (Home A f f a ir s

and E nvironm ent) a r e  such j u n i o r  M in is te r s  th e y  a r e  unÂ­

l i k e l y  to  be a b l e  to  s ta n d  up to  a Q ueensland v e to  o f th e

C a irn s  s e c t i o n .

The F e d e ra l Government c o n s i s t e n t l y  p a n d e rs to  th e  w ish es

o f Q ueensland and w ith  th e  f r i c t i o n  a r i s i n g  from h e a l t h

c u ts  and th e  P re m ie rs  C o n fe re n c e , i t  i s  d o u b tfu l th e

F e d e ra l Government w i l l  r i s k  f u r t h e r  a n tag o n ism .

So much f o r  th e  n a t i o n a l  i n t e r e s t  and o u r unique h e r i t a g e !

AMAZING STATEMENTS

Commenting on th e  Tasm anian G overnm ent's d e c is io n  to  seek   r e c o g n itio n  o f t h e  W ild R iv e rs  N a tio n a l P ark on th e  World

H e rita g e  l i s t ,  Mr M a th e rs, L i b e r a l Spokesman f o r  E nergy,

s a id  th e  a tte m p t to  b r in g  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  f o r c e s  i n t o  th e

argum ent w ould be condemned by a l l  th in k in g  T asm anians.

******

Any q u e r ie s  and comments p le s e  p h o n e:

062 -  72.6832 (C an b erra)

o r

042 -  29.5455 (W ollongong) "*

8 .

-C L T L C C r -SHADOW M INISTER FOR

ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION

STEWART WEST

1

A ÃÂ´ÃÂ¿ÃÂ»ÃÂ», ÃÂ¶ÃÂ´ Of) n e m le tte u  on  topieaZ kAAtxcA pertaining  to  the. environment.

S.W. TASMANIA BATTLES ON

"The row o v e r T a sm a n ia 's n e x t power developm ent co u ld  rem ain  u n re s o lv e d  u n t i l  th e  S ta t e  e l e c t i o n  due in  m id-1983" -  H obart

M ercury 1 .5 .8 1

"The p ro c la m a tio n  o f th e  W ild R iv e rs  N a tio n a l P ark  by th e  S ta te

Government was acc laim ed  by c o n s e rv a tio n  i n t e r e s t s  y e s t e r d a y ." -   L au n cesto n  Exam iner 2 .5 .8 1

L ib e ra l-d o m in a te d  Upper House hopes to  flo o d  th e  F ra n k lin

sh o u ld  be dashed by th e  G overnm ent's d e c l a r a ti o n  o f th e  Wild

R iv e rs  N a tio n a l P a rk .

D e s tr u c tio n  o f th e  S.W. w ild  r i v e r s  m ust be p re v e n te d  and th e

W ild R iv e rs  P ark  i s  a m ajor p r e s e r v a t io n  s te p .

W ith th e  power s tr u g g le  betw een th e  Upper and Lower Houses  in  Tasm ania a t  a s ta le m a te  t h e r e  seems some s u p p o rt f o r  a

com prehensive i n v e s t i g a t i o n  in t o  T a sm a n ia 's f u tu r e  en erg y  n eed s

p o s s ib ly  by a F e d e ra l In q u ir y  u n d er th e  Environm ent P r o te c tio n

(Im p act o f P ro p o s a ls ) A ct.

The Upper House and th e  Tasm anian L i b e r a l P a r ty  m ust n o t succeed

in  t h e i r  p l o t  to  d e s tr o y  p a r t  o f th e  W o rld 's H e rita g e . The

U pper House h as no r i g h t  to  t r y  to  u su rp  th e  power o f a demoÂ­

c r a t i c a l l y  e l e c t e d  Lower H ouse. I f  i t  su ccee d s i t  w i l l  be a

m a ssiv e blow to  b o th  dem ocracy and our n a t io n a l h e r i t a g e .

RUNDLE LEAVES GIANT HOLE

F e d e r a l G overnm ent p o l i c i e s  on A u s t r a l i a 's  e n e rg y  f u t u r e ,  w h ic h

had b e e n  p in n e d  on t h e  R u ndie S h a le  o i l  v e n t u r e , re m a in  i n

t a t t e r s .

N a tio n a l D ev elo p m en t and E n erg y  M i n i s t e r  Sen. G a r r ic k  u se d

g i a n t  s p e c u l a t i v e  p r o j e c t s  su c h  a s  R undie a s  t h e  b a s e  f o r

A u s t r a l i a 's  f u t u r e  e n e rg y  p l a n s .

The R undle c r a s h  m eant th e  c o l l a p s e  o f  G overnm ent e n e rg y

p o l i c i e s .

The G overnm ent s h o u ld  h a v e  b e e n  s h a p in g  n a t i o n a l  p l a n s  b a s e d

on i n c r e a s i n g  A u s t r a l i a 's  e n e rg y  s e l f  s u f f i c i e n c y  and

f in a n c e d  by r e v e n u e  from  w i n d f a l l  o i l  p r o f i t s .

G re a te r u s e  s h o u ld  b e made o f LPG and CNG (com pressed n a t u r a l

g as) and r e s e a r c h i n g  a l t e r n a t e  te c h n o lo g ie s  i n t o  l i q u i d

f u e l s  such a s  m e th a n o l.

The ALP f o r  some tim e had c o n s id e re d  th e  Rundle v e n tu re  imÂ­

p r a c t i c a b l e  in  t h e  s h o r t  e r a .

R e v e l a t io n s  c o n ti n u e  t o  f e e d  s p e c u l a t i o n  a s  t o  t h e  f u t u r e  o f

t h e  o i l  s h a l e  d e p o s i t s :

* W ill th e y  be s a t  on f o r  y e a rs  u n t i l  e c o n o m ic a lly  f e a s i b l e ,

* I f  s o , w h ich  company w i l l  do t h e  s i t t i n g ,

* W ill t h e  te c h n o lo g y  e v e r  b e  e c o n o m ic a lly  f e a s i b l e  o r  w i l l

i t  be s u p e r c e d e d  b y  o t h e r  e n e rg y  s u p p l i e s ,

*  Or h a s  t h e  s h e e r  s i z e  o f  t h e  o p e r a t i o n  and

* T e c h n ic a l p ro b le m s  a s s o c i a t e d  w ith  c ru m b ly  s h a l e  and l a c k

o f  w a t e r ,

p ro v e d  to o  imm ense?

The mine would be 15sq kms and 300 m (1 ,0 0 0  f t )  d e e p , in v o lv in g

50 r e t o r t s ,  each th e  s i z e  o f  a 1 7 - s to r e y  b u il d in g , u s in g

910 m egaw atts o f  power d a i l y  w ith  1.5 m i l l i o n  to n n e s o f  s h a le

and o v erb u rd en  m ined d a i l y .  .

The c a p i t a l  c o s t s  o f  th e  p r o j e c t  in c re a s e d  en o rm o u sly . In

2 .

O nly " e s s e n t i a l "  Commonwealth i n t e r e s t  i n  Kakadu w i l l  b e m ainÂ­

t a i n e d  -  b u t  t h i s  G overnm ent d o es n o t  c o n s id e r  any e n v iro n m e n tÂ­

a l  p r o t e c t i o n  " e s s e n t i a l " .

We w i l l  b e  l e f t  w i t h  s t a t e ,  n o t  n a t i o n a l ,  p a r k s , so i f  t h e

S t a t e s  o r  N .T . d e c id e  t o  m ine o r  le a v e  a p a rk  u n p r o t e c t e d , th e n

t h e  Commonwealth w i l l  b e  r e s t r i c t e d  i n  i t s  pow ers to  i n t e r f e r e .

The supposed sw e e te n e r i s  t h a t  th e  ANPWS w i l l  m a in ta in  c o n t r o l

o f  A u s t r a l i a 's  m arin e p a rk s  -  b u t o n ly  one s e c ti o n  o f th e

G reat B a r r i e r  R eef h as been d e c la re d  M arine P a rk , d e s p it e  r e Â­

p e a te d  p ro m ise s d u rin g  th e  p a s t 6 y e a rs  t h a t  th e  r e s t  w i l l  be

d e c la r e d .

MORETON ISLAND -  SAND MINING OR SQUATTERS?

S q u a tt e r s , b o a tin g  e n t h u s i a s t s  and fo u r w heel d riv e  v e h ic le

d r i v e r s  posed a g r e a t e r  t h r e a t  to  M oreton I s la n d  th a n  conÂ­

t r o l l e d  sand m in in g , a c c o rd in g  to  Q ueensland W elfare S e rv ic e s

M in is te r , Mr W hite.

T hat e x t r a o r d in a r y  s ta te m e n t shows th e  d e c is io n  to  mine

M oreton I s la n d  h a s a lre a d y  been made. Such s ta te m e n ts  a re

m e re ly  e f f o r t s  to  j u s t i f y  sand m in in g .

But i t  w o n 't be e a s y  to  s e l l  th e  r u t i l e  from M oreton I s la n d

s in c e  M in is te r  f o r  T rade and R eso u rces Mr Anthony w i l l  have

a h a rd  tim e j u s t i f y i n g  e x p o rt li c e n s e s  f o r  p ro d u c ts  g ain ed

in  d e s tr o y in g  an is la n d  l i s t e d  in  th e  N a tio n a l E s ta te  and

p r o te c te d  by th e  A u s t r a li a n  H e rita g e  Commission A ct.

FEDERAL FIGHT FOUNDERS ON REEF ISSUE

The c l i c h e  "P u t y o u r w atch back 1 hqur and 10 y e a rs  when

you re a c h  Q ueensland" makes se n se  when t a l k i n g  ab o u t th e

f u t u r e  o f th e  G reat B a r r i e r  R eef.

S in ce 1975 th e  F r a s e r  Government h as prom ised to  d e c la r e  th e

G re a t B a r r i e r  R eef a M arine P ark  b u t so f a r  o n ly  a sm a ll

s e c t i o n ,  C a p r ic o m ia , h a s been d e c la r e d .

7

en rich m en t p la n ts  and n u c le a r  power s t a t i o n s  f o r  th e  N .T .,

th e  m ajor uranium  p ro d u c in g  a r e a  in  A u s t r a l i a  . For r e s e r v e s

and fo re ig n  ow nership p e rc e n ta g e s  o f 32 m ajor uranium  p ro d Â­

u cin g  a re a  in  A u s t r a l i a ,  see t a b l e  H an sard , 7 May 1981

pp2181-83.

URANIUM OVERSUPPLY, OVERKILL

The q u e s tio n  on e v e r y o n e 's ' l i p s  i s ,  "What happens to  h a l f

o f th e  A u s tr a lia n  produced uranium  p la n n ed  f o r  th e  m id d le -

l a t e  1980s?"

F e d e ra l and S ta te  Governments p la n  f o r  a p ro d u c tio n  o f  14,000

to n n e s by th e n , b u t A u s t r a li a n  Atomic Energy Commission (w e ll

known f o r  i t s  c o n s i s t e n t l y  o v e re s tim a te d  optim ism ) f o r e c a s t s

A u s t r a l i a 's  s h a re  o f th e  w o rld  m ark et w i l l  o n ly  be 7,000

to n n e s.

T h is means th e  e x c e ss  p ro d u c tio n  w i l l  be s o ld  to  any b u y er

a t  ro c k  b o tto m  p r i c e s  and no doubt in v o lv in g  f u r t h e r  red u ce d

s a fe g u a rd s  and w eak er, i f  an y , n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n  a g re e m e n ts.

NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT UNECONOMIC

Many p e o p le  have s u s p e c te d  f o r  a lo n g  tim e an A u s t r a li a n  enÂ­

ric h m e n t in d u s tr y  c o u ld  pro v e uneconom ic, a s w e ll as

e x tre m e ly  d an g ero u s.

The l a t e s t  r e p o r te d  a d d i tio n s  to  th e s e  ra n k s i s  Monash

U n iv e r s ity  p h y s i c i s t  Dr A lan R o b e rts who say s a n u c le a r

en rich m en t in d u s tr y  c o u ld  c o s t th e  ta x  p a y e r $1500 m i lli o n

w ith  no c e r t a i n t y  i t  w ould pay i t s  way.

W ith 1500 jo b s  c r e a te d  a t  a c o s t o f  $1 m i lli o n  each  jo b ,

th e r e  must be s a f e r  and l e s s  e x p e n s iv e  ways o f f in d in g  emÂ­

p loym ent. .

ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS CENSOR URANIUM FILM

The heavy hand o f  th e  c e n s o r , i n  th e  form  o f a Government

M in is te r , h a s come thum ping down on two uranium  m ining  f ilm s .

A s u c c e s s io n  o f F e d e ra l M in is te r s  f o r  th e  E nvironm ent have

b lo c k e d  r e le a s e  f o r  more th a n  a y e a r o f two docum entary

4

film s  made by F ilm  A u s t r a l i a  f o r  th e  S u p e rv is in g  S c i e n t i s t  and

th e  D epartm ent o f th e  E nvironm ent.

O r i g i n a l l y , th e  two docum entary film s  on e n v iro n m e n ta l m o n ito rÂ­ in g  o f uranium  m ining in  th e  A l l i g a t o r  R iv e rs  Region w ere n o t

supposed to  be P .R . f o r  uranium  m in in g , w ith  problem s s e t  up

and th e  f ilm  p ro v id in g  r e a s s u r in g  a n s w e rs . T h is was s t a t e d

in  a l e t t e r  to  F ilm  A u s t r a l i a  from th e  D epartm ent o f S cie n ce

and E nvironm ent.

When th e  f il m s , f in i s h e d  in  F e b ru a ry  1980, w ere viewed by th e

th e n  M in is te r  f o r  S cie n ce and E nvironm ent, Mr Thompson, he  banned t h e i r  r e l e a s e  s u b je c t to  c h an g e s.

Amended s c r i p t s  w ere s u b m itte d  in  A ugust and have s t i l l  n o t

been ap p ro v ed .

The M in is te r  ask ed  a p o r tio n  o f f il m , w here a s c i e n t i s t  d i s Â­

c u s s e s  th e  problem  o f heavy m e ta l t o x i c i t y ,  to  be removed.

A s ta te m e n t by a n o th e r s c i e n t i s t  s a y in g  th e  e f f e c t s  o f d i s Â­

c h a rg e s  o f e f f l u e n t  from R anger w ould be m inim al was o k ay ed .

I t  was s u g g e s te d  t h a t  " w a te r"  sh o u ld  be used in  p la c e  o f

" e f f l u e n t " .  P resum ably t h i s  was to  r e a s s u r e  p eo p le h e a rin g

ab o u t th e  e f f e c t s  o f " w a te r"  d is c h a rg e  from uranium  m ining

o p e r a tio n s  in  th e  M agela C reek e c o sy stem .

WORLD HERITAGE HOPES GO BANANAS .

A u s t r a l i a  m ust be th e  o n ly  "banana r e p u b lic "  in  th e  w o rld

p ro p o s in g  to  mine uranium  in  a n a t i o n a l  p a rk  nom inated f o r

World H e rita g e  L i s t i n g .

J u s t i c e  Fox i n  th e  Ranger in q u ir y  r e p o r t  co n clu d ed  th e

K oongarra a r e a  in  Kakadu N a tio n a l P a rk , N .T ., was to o  e c o lo g Â­

i c a l l y  f r a g i l e  to  a llo w  uranium  m in in g .

B ut th e  F e d e ra l G overnm ent, pushed by M in is te r  f o r  Trade and

R eso u rces Doug A nthony, d e c id e d  in  F e b ru a ry  e n v iro n m e n ta l  c o n t r o l s  would be a d e q u a te  and th e  w h o lly  C anadian owned

company D enison co u ld  p ro cee d  w ith  p la n s  f o r  m in in g .

M a c h ia v e llia n  schemes a re  now underway s in c e  a m ista k e  in

5

th e  p la n s  h a s r e v e a le d  th e  N a tio n a l P a rk s and W ild lif e  A ct

w i l l  have to  be changed to  a llo w  uranium  m in in g  ( a g a i n s t

th e  e x p re s s  w ish es o f th e  t r a d i t i o n a l  A b o rig in a l o w n e rs ).

N orm ally a change w ould ta k e  weeks o r months o f p u b lic

in q u iry  and comment and th e  F r a s e r  Government w i l l  n o t g e t

i t s  p ro p o s a ls  th ro u g h  b o th  H ouses b e f o r e  lo s in g  c o n t r o l o f

th e  S en ate on J u ly  1. So th e  Government h a s d e c id e d  to  amend

th e  Act r e p e a lin g  th o s e  s e c ti o n s  r e q u ir i n g  th e  s t i p u l a t e d

tim e f o r  p u b lic  s c r u ti n y  and comments, e t c .

W orse, i t  i s  A n th o n y 's d ep artm en t m aking th e  d e c is io n s  to  p r e s s

ahead w ith  m ining in  th e  P ark and to  change th e  A ct, c l e a r l y

d e fin e d  r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s  o f  Home A f f a i r s  and E nvironm ent.

M in is te r s  f o r  Environm ent and A b o rig in a l A f f a i r s  have been

t o l d  to  g e t on w ith  th e  jo b  o f s e l l i n g  th e  id e a  to  e n v iro n Â­

m e n ta li s ts  and t r a d i t i o n a l  ow n ers.

D i c t a t o r - s t y l e  t a c t i c s  o f Anthony have in c lu d e d  d e l i b e r a t e l y

e x c lu d in g  th e  P ark  a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , N a tio n a l P ark s and W i ld li f e

S e rv ic e  and th e  A b o rig in a l ow ners from  any d e c is io n  m aking.

The d a n g e rs d f  such a p re c e d e n t ca n n o t be em phasised s tr o n g ly

enough.

Trade and R eso u rces can d e c id e  to  s u p p o rt any com pany's p ro Â­

p o s a l to  m ine -  ev en  i n  a N a tio n a l P a rk  -  and o r d e r  any

changes n e c e s s a ry  in  any o th e r  a r e a s  to  a llo w  t h i s .

I t  makes a f a r c e  o f  th e  id e a  o f  a N a tio n a l P a rk , d e s ig n a te d

a s such b eca u se o f i t s  v a lu e  to  th e  n a t io n .

PARKS FACE CHOP

A u s tr a lia n  N a tio n a l P a rk s and W ild lif e  S e r v ic e , l i k e  N a tio n a l

P ark s th e m s e lv e s , a r e  b e in g  hacked w ith  an axe r a t h e r  th a n

a r a z o r .

Razor Gang p ro p o s a ls  mean ANWPS o p e r a tio n s  a r e  to  be g ra d Â­ u a l l y  s c a le d  down and th e  c o n s e r v a tiv e  N o rth e rn  T e r r i t o r y

Government w i l l  ta k e  c o n t r o l o f o u r two m ajor n a t i o n a l

p a rk s , U luru ( in c lu d in g  A yers Rock and th e  O lgas) and Kakadu

in  th e  A l l i g a t o r  R iv e rs  R egion.

6

Septem ber 1980 Esso announced S tag e 1 c o s ts  had alm o st t r e b l e d

from  $300 -  $400 m i lli o n  to  more th a n  $1,100 m i lli o n . S ix

m onths l a t e r  t h i s  f ig u r e  alm o st dou b led  to  $2,100 m i lli o n .

The o v e r a l l  c o s ts  c o u ld  amount to  $12,000 m i l l i o n . W ith o n ly

3,0 0 0  perm anent jo b s  c r e a te d  t h i s  am ounts to  $4 m illio n  a jo b .

F or R undle to  be econom ic w ould in v o lv e  th e  c o s t o f o i l  alm o st

d o u b lin g  in  r e a l  te rm s.

For t h i s  to  happen in  th e  n e x t f i v e  y e a r s , when th e  Government

in te n d e d  Rundle to  be f i n i s h e d ,  was f a r  f e tc h e d .

In  f a c t  s h a le  o i l  and c o a l l i q u e f a c t i o n  do n o t a p p e a r to  be

th e  m ost f e a s i b l e  o p tio n s  on c u r r e n t p r i c i n g  p r e d i c t i o n s .  AlÂ­

though f e a s i b i l i t y  r e l i e s  on OPEC's f u tu r e  p r i c i n g ,  w hich i s

a lm o st im p o s s ib le  to  p r e d i c t ,  i t  a p p e a rs  t h a t  w o rld  o i l  p r i c e s

would have to  d o u b le in  r e a l  t e r n s .

Given th e  huge amount o f  raw m a t e r i a l s  and power n e e d e d , th e

s h e e r  s i z e  o f th e  v e n tu re s  and th e  t e c h n i c a l  p ro b le m s, th e s e

s p e c u la tiv e  p r o j e c t s  le a v e  such a l t e r n a t e  f u e l s  f ir m ly  i n  th e

f u t u r e .

F e d e ra l Government m ust d i r e c t  i t s  p o l i c i e s  to  p roven te c h Â­

n o lo g y  o p tio n s  such a s  m e th a n o l.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ‘JUMPS CLEAN THROUGH NUCLEAR SAFETY NET

A u s t r a l i a 's  n u c le a r  s a f e t y  re c o r d  h as n e v e r lo o k e d  so b le a k .

Not c o n te n t w ith  ig n o r in g  e n v iro n m e n ta l h a z a r d s , s e l l i n g

uranium  to  c o u n tr ie s  r e f u s in g  to  s ig n  th e  n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n

t r e a t i e s , and a llo w in g  uranium  m in in g  i n  o u r n a t i o n a l  p a r k s ,

th e  F r a s e r  Government h as found one way to  p a s s  th e  i n e v i t a b l e

f l a k  -  g iv e  a l l  th e  r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  to  th e  S ta t e s  and N .T.

F r a s e r  Government d e c is io n s  a r i s i n g  from  R azor Gang p ro p o s a ls   in c lu d e  n u c le a r  a c t i v i t i e s  b e in g  r e g u la te d  by th e  S ta t e s  and

N . T . , w ith  th e  Commonwealth m a in ta in in g  a 'c o - o r d i n a t i n g '

r o l e , w hich means d o in g  n o th in g  e x c e p t f a c i l i t a t i n g  th e  w hole

b u s in e s s .

C h ie f M in is te r  P a u l Everingham  h as r e p e a te d ly  c a l l e d  f o r  f a s Â­

t e r  developm ent o f uranium  p r o j e c t s  and i s  b u s i l y  p la n n in g

