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23 comments on The Bullroarer - Thursday 28th August 2008

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Big Gav on August 28, 2008 - 8:52am

Another verse in the sad ballad of Peter Garrett - Garrett changes tune on uranium

Peter Garrett used to rock out to anti-nuclear tunes. Now the federal environment minister has changed his tune, approving a major expansion of Australia's smallest uranium mine.

The Midnight Oil frontman protested against the nuclear industry in the song "Maralinga". "In the wind the ashes fly, the poison crown, the charcoal ground," he sang. It seems his dancing days are behind him.

On Thursday, he announced he had given the go-ahead to the major expansion of South Australia's Beverley mine, the smallest of Australia's three uranium mines. The mine, located near the Flinders Ranges 600km from Adelaide, produces 1,500 tonnes of "yellowcake" - uranium oxide - a year.

Australian Conservation Foundation campaigner David Noonan said the mine could now spread its acid and radioactive pollution over 100 square kilometres.

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SP on August 28, 2008 - 11:17am

A half hearted defence.
On Lateline (transcript 2m) Garret made it clear that although he disagreed with the party line, he would follow it. And let's be clear, if he did actually think of stopping 1 or 2 mines it would only be a matter of minutes before the heavy hitters got rid of him.

He probably argues that at least he is enforcing the strongest available standards available to him.

Can you imagine Marn Furson or similar operative in this portfolio?
"Envioment? What about working famlies?"

Perhaps as Garrets star sinks, we might offer small (even half hearted) thanks that it's not worse, because it could well be.
Just a thought.

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Big Gav on August 28, 2008 - 6:35pm

Of it could certainly be worse - its just sad that he is now reduced to toeing a party line and not doing and saying what he really thinks.

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Cretaceous on August 29, 2008 - 1:51am

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Big Gav on August 29, 2008 - 7:30am

:-)

Nice one.

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Kiashu on August 28, 2008 - 8:30pm

Party policy is decided largely by caucus, by all the elected MPs of that party. If he disagrees with party policy, he can always resign his ministerial position. This would go a long way towards altering party policy.

Whereas just fiddling about the edges of it, not so much.

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