The Albanese Labor Government ignored, dismissed or silenced Australians in regional communities who objected to offshore wind farms being built in their backyard.
A Senate Committee report has highlighted the failure of Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen to consult and engage with communities in the Hunter (NSW), Illawarra (NSW), South West Victoria (VIC), Gippsland, (Vic), Bass Strait (Tas), and Bunbury region (WA) that are expected to host offshore wind farms.
The community engagement process was deeply flawed, and these flaws were deliberately ignored by the Albanese Government and their arrogant and out of touch Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.
Minister Bowen is so desperate to deliver his renewables energy agenda that he will stream roll community concerns and shut down legitimate questions.
The Coalition stands with the communities who have been ignored by Labor despite raising serious economic, social, and environmental concerns. There has been no genuine community consultation because Labor is hiding from scrutiny on all things offshore wind.
According to the committee report, written by chair and Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young, people described the consultation process as rushed, with complicated ideas not explained which gave the impression that the wind zone was inevitable.
The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation described the consultation process as a “failure”.
While the Port Stephens Greens described Labor’s community consultation as “token”. “Many left the session feeling that the Government had already decided to proceed with offshore wind and was just going through the motions,” they said.
Victorian National Parks Association said the environmental impact of offshore wind farms resulted from “turbines and subsea cables blocking the routes of migratory threatened species such as albatross, southern right whales and important fishery species, such as snapper”.
Former councillor Mark Croxford of the Kiama Municipal Council said the Government’s consultation process “failed to adequately address the potential environmental impact…posed by the offshore wind industry”.
ENDS
Contact: Byron Vale 02 6277 4426 | byron.vale@aph.gov.au
