Renewable energy projects failing the pub test in regional Australia

Nationals Senator for New South Wales, Ross Cadell, has called on the Albanese Government to add greater regulation around social licence for renewable energy projects.

It comes after a call from the National Farmers Federation to address the fierce discontent in farming communities over renewable projects and transmission infrastructure.

Senator Cadell has called for the implementation of initiatives that protect communities, ensuring that the race to renewables does not come at the cost of regional Australia.

“Without tighter regulation and harsher penalties, energy companies will continue to rip the souls out of regional communities under the guise of Labor’s race to renewables,” Cadell said.

“We find ourselves in this position because proponents continue to take advantage of the lack of regulation by conducting community consultation simply as a tick box activity.

“The Dyer Report told us that just 8% of people surveyed were satisfied with the level of engagement from project developers. The same report proposed ways to improve engagement.

Despite this, the Labor Government seem to be stagnant on action. “For the past 15-months I have been calling for an inquiry into the impact of Labor’s plan to ‘Rewire the Nation’. On every occasion, Labor, The Greens, and Independent Senator David Pocock have voted against simply holding an inquiry.

“For decades, our mining sector has been held to strict environmental and social conditions, designed to ensure regional communities are not negatively affected by energy related industries.

“The renewables sector needs to be held to the same level of accountability, ensuring money that flows into the regions as a result of renewable projects stays in the regions.