Kellie Sloane
NSW Opposition Leader
James Griffin MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change
The NSW Liberals and Nationals today slammed Labor’s chaotic renewable energy rollout, after the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner raised serious concerns about the impact of the rapid rollout of large-scale renewable energy projects.
In a letter to the Minister, the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Tony Mahar warned the Minister the current approach was:
“…both failing to capture the significant cumulative impacts affecting regional communities and to ensure a coordinated approach which would minimise impacts.”
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said it was concerning to see that Mr Mahar had to raise these issues again despite repeated conversations.
“This is a damning review of the Minns Labor Government’s bungled renewable energy rollout which is leaving regional communities worse off,” Ms Sloane said.
“The communities being asked to host this infrastructure in their backyards have been ignored, rushed, and left to navigate an unbalanced system.”
"NSW needs a renewable energy transition that properly considers communities and inspires investor confidence. We cannot cut corners.”
Shadow Energy Minister James Griffin said it was also troubling that the Commissioner said concerns had increased over time.
“The Minns Labor Government needs to answer the questions that the Commissioner has asked and make those answers public,” Mr Griffin said.
“Every time this government cuts corners on consultation or ignores issues like the ones raised by the Commissioner, it drives up energy project risk and drives down investor confidence.”
“Will this government dismiss the Commissioner’s concerns? Or are they willing to listen. When a federal watchdog is warning that communities cannot see the full picture of projects coming their way, it proves that Labor’s approach is not coordinated, not transparent and not sustainable.”