Labor made $300k ‘Indigenous Songlines’ grant during wind project consultation
The grant was awarded to a First Nations academic who had previously voiced concerns about the controversial Illawarra offshore wind zone.
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Exclusive: An Indigenous academic, who criticised the cultural and environmental impacts of the controversial Illawarra offshore wind zone, was recently the recipient of a $300,000 research grant from the Albanese government.
Dr Jodi Edwards, an adviser and leader in the local Dharawal community, was commissioned in February to “explore how Indigenous songlines have protected whales and dolphins over hundreds of years”.
NSW south coast residents have expressed anger over Labor’s decision to approve the offshore wind project, which will host 300 industrial wind turbines, standing 268m tall, and spanning a total area of 1022 square kilometres.
During public consultation, a range of community members voiced concerns about the turbines having an impact on birdlife and whales.
Also contained in the 14,000 public submissions on the project was a warning from Shellharbour City Council, which said: “First Nations people are highly impacted by the proposed offshore renewable energy zone.
“Whales are a totem for the Dharawal people and are considered tribal ancestors, treated with the same respect as immediate relatives.
“There are concerns that the region will displace whales from their traditional travel routes and migration pathways, which would greatly impact cultural connections to the Illawarra region and disruption to songlines.”
Dr Edwards had also previously expressed opposition to the wind zone, writing on Facebook in August 2022: “O/S (offshore) wind farms equals $$ V’s (versus) impacts on fish, marine mammals, invertebrates, birds and bats.
“Neg (negative) effects, destruction of underwater Aboriginal sites and artefacts, habitat displacement and exposure to electromagnetic fields and u/water (underwater) noise.”
When responding to a comment on her Facebook page, Dr Edwards claimed she “wasn’t consulted about the decision to put them there”.
In February this year, Dr Edwards and the University of Wollongong were awarded a $300,000 grant, for a project called Unbroken Whispers.
A federal government press release in February claimed Dr Edwards would “study Indigenous environmental knowledge about the connections between land, sea and sky, with a particular focus on whales”.
When asked to comment on the funding for Dr Edwards and whether it was in any way linked to the Illawarra offshore wind zone, a spokesperson for Energy Minister Chris Bowen said: “Prior to a feasibility licence being awarded, project developers must engage in specific consultation with traditional owners.
“Licences will only be awarded to developers whose proposed projects do the most to support Australia’s workforce and energy security, protect the environment and cultural heritage of First Nations communities and share the marine space with shipping, tourism and fishing industries.”
Dr Edwards and the University of Wollongong declined to comment when contacted.
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