Energy Minister Responds to Opposition Pledge to Axe Offshore Wind Farm

The government says the Liberal Party initially supported offshore wind.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen speaks to guests at the APAC Hydrogen Summit in Brisbane, Australia on Sept. 13, 2024. AAP Image/Jono Searle

The Albanese government has responded after the federal opposition pledged to cancel a proposed offshore wind farm along the coast of Western Australia.

This project, spanning 4,000 square kilometres from Mandurah (south of the capital Perth) to Dunsborough, could accommodate up to 700 wind towers.

“[Opposition Leader] Peter Dutton’s own party wanted offshore wind so much they wrote the legislation to make it happen and set the rules for how consultation should run,” a spokesperson for Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s office told The Epoch Times.

He further said the Coalition had previously supported the project for “local jobs and Australian industry.”

“He needs to stop playing politics with regional communities’ futures,” the energy minister’s office said.

“Offshore wind is a new industry for Australia, and the Albanese government has created policy certainty on climate and energy to bring the world’s renewable energy developers here.”

Wind Farm Threatens Environment: Hastie

Western Australian Liberal MP Andrew Hastie took to social media days ago to announce the Coalition would cancel the wind farm.

“Labor will compromise our environment and make power more expensive and less reliable,” he said.

“On our horizon, it will look very ugly. Labor will compromise our environment and make power more expensive and less reliable,” he said.

He also added that the Coalition’s focus was on delivering “affordable and reliable power for Australian families, small businesses, and industry.

“We believe in protecting the environment and ensuring energy security.”

Wind Farm Moved to Reduce Visual Impact

Earlier this year, Energy Minister Bowen had reduced the project’s initial size to 4,000 square kilometres.

He announced the project during a visit to Bunbury in September, stating it would generate up to 11.4 gigawatts of energy. Bowen highlighted the efficiency of wind energy, noting, “One turn of one turbine creates as much energy as solar panels on your roof all day.”

Bowen also addressed concerns about the visual impact, confirming that the towers would be positioned further offshore than initially planned. As the project advances, the federal government is calling for companies to apply for feasibility licences, with applications closing on Nov. 6.

Despite opposition from the Coalition, the Smart Energy Council and Greenpeace, have expressed support for the wind farm.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Liberal Party for further comment but did not receive a response before this story was filed.