Labor, Coalition combine to block Greens’ move to reveal truths about Lynas

Labor and the Coalition have blocked the Greens' move to reveal what assistance Lynas Corporation got for its rare earths plant in Malaysia, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Despite ongoing and passionate public protests in Malaysia, not least over the prospect of radioactive by-products, Australia's old parties have closed ranks and the government's files on this internationally contentious issue," Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown had moved:

That the Senate-

(a) notes:

(i) the public protests in Malaysia against the establishment of a rare earth processing plant by the Australian company Lynas Corporation Ltd,

(ii) the protests are supported by the Malaysian Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, and

(iii) the concerns of the protestors include the radioactive by-product that will be produced by the plant and disposed of in Malaysia, the lack of benefit to the local communities particularly given the 12 year tax break granted to the project and the threat from the plant to the local environment, including the Balok River; and

(b) calls on the Australian Government to report to the Senate by Thursday, 1 March 2012 on what assistance has been provided to Lynas Corporation Ltd and what due diligence has or will be done on Lynas Corporation Ltd.