Atlas West Oil Rig – where are the profits going?

Oil from the West Atlas oil rig in the Timor Sea, off the Western Australian northern coast, has been seeping into the ocean for more than ten weeks.

Yesterday, the rig caught fire.

We’re concerned about the long term effects on the environment, and, of course Australia’s reputation on the world stage,  but  should we be questioning who profits from these  massive projects off our coast?

Perth Journalist Tony Serve looks into the issues that have been swept under the carpet:

Australia NW Oil Spill, company links to Burma’s military dictatorship? Are we financing the Generals as we pick up the bill for their mess? OP/ED

http://ow.ly/yufR

$50b question: Gorgon carbon claims in doubt

DOUBTS have emerged over whether the giant $50 billion Gorgon gas project can safely bury its greenhouse gas emissions deep beneath the Barrow Island nature reserve off Western Australia.

Technical experts working with Gorgon’s developers, Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobil, found it was possible that carbon dioxide could leak from faults in the geological formation under the island which is supposed to act as the burial site. Their findings were disclosed in the developers’ response to complaints from the Conservation Council of WA, which argued the plan to bury the gases was highly risky.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/50b-question-gorgon-carbon-claims-in-doubt-20090825-ey3j.html

Western Swamp Tortoises released into wild

A creep of critically endangered Western Swamp Tortoises was today released back into their former habitat at Moore River Nature Reserve north of Perth.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher said the 30 tortoises were bred at Perth Zoo and their translocation was part of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Plan, which aimed to bring the species back from the brink of extinction.

“The Western Swamp Tortoise is one of the world’s rarest tortoises and is Australia’s most endangered reptile,” Mrs Faragher said.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=132392

http://www.westernswamptortoise.com/about/about-the-western-swamp-tortoise

Australia signs biggest ever resource deal with China

Australia has secured its biggest ever resources deal by signing a $50 billion agreement to supply liquefied natural gas to China.

The gas will come from the Gorgon development off the West Australian coast.

The announcement comes a week after a $25 billion deal was struck to supply gas to India, also from Gorgon.

The $50 billion Gorgon LNG project will be the biggest single investment ever made in Australia, breaking the record set only a few years ago by the $12 billion Pluto LNG project now under construction in Western Australia.

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said the unprecedented export deal confirmed Australia’s importance as a global energy superpower.

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/australia-signs-biggest-ever-resource-deal-with-china-20090818-ep2g.html

Labor kills WA shopping hours reform

A bid to extend shopping hours in Perth has failed after Labor this morning decided to oppose the Retail Trading Hours Amendment Bill.

The legislation cannot now pass through the Legislative Assembly as the Liberals coalition partner in Government, the Nationals, also opposes it.

Premier Colin Barnett slammed the decision, saying Perth was building several iconic developments – such as the Northbridge Link, Perth Arena and the waterfront redevelopment – “and you are going to have a big sign – ‘closed’.”

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/labor-kills-shopping-hours-reform-20090818-eoqy.html

Geothermal exploration permits expands potential for alternative energy source

Perth metropolitan homes and businesses could be powered, cooled and heated by geothermal energy in the future following the recent awarding of the first geothermal exploration permits in the Perth Basin.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore said today there was strong potential to harness geothermal power in the Perth area.

“Using the natural heat from deep underground sources would be a significant step in reducing our carbon footprint,” Mr Moore said.

“Imagine new housing estates using natural energy source to cool, heat or power homes with no emissions.”

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=132369

Kokoda plane crash: wreck found, all dead

A PAPUA New Guinea rescue team has reached the remote crash site where 13 people, including nine Australians, were killed when their flight to Kokoda crashed into a nearby mountain.

Joseph Kintau director of PNG’s Civil Aviation Authority said a 4pm (PNG/AEST) report indicated the rescue team had made it to the site.

“They are at the site and a helipad for choppers to fly is being constructed about 15 metres from the site,” he said.

“There is heavy rain and Kokoda will become the main transport site.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25918725-421,00.html

Final State environmental approval given for Gorgon development

PRESS RELEASE

Environment Minister Donna Faragher has given final environmental approval for the proposed Gorgon gas development on Barrow Island.

Final approval for the revised and expanded project was granted with strong, new environmental conditions to provide higher levels of protection for regionally significant coral reefs and flatback marine turtles.

Approval also follows Mrs Faragher’s consultation with other decision makers, namely the State Development, Mines and Petroleum and Lands Ministers as required under the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=132338

Terrorist mastermind Noordin Top believed killed in police raid

SUSPECTED terrorist mastermind Noordin Mohammed Top was believed to have been killed in a Central Java police raid today.

Indonesian police this afternoon were evacuating bodies from the house they had stormed, believing that the regional militant leader was hiding on the premises with several followers.

Indonesian news stations carried television footage of the raid, and quoted a police source as being “80 per cent certain” that Top had been in the house.

Top is suspected of having had a leading role in last month’s attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in the capital, Jakarta, which killed nine people, including three Australians.

The raid today broke a 17-hour siege of the house that had officers trading automatic weapons fire with the militants.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25900439-601,00.html?from=public_rss

Cordblood Bank for WA one step closer

Western Australia is one step closer to having a Cordblood Bank, following the presentation of a cheque for $150,000 to Rotary WA by Housing and Works Minister Troy Buswell today.

The funding came from the sale of a charity home at Mevé at Beeliar Estate and will assist Rotary to reach its fundraising target of $6million to provide the facility as a centenary gift to WA.

“A Cordblood Bank will help the many patients who need bone marrow transplants for life-threatening conditions but don’t have suitably matched donors,” Mr Buswell said.

Cordblood is currently brought into WA  from interstate or overseas.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=132327