Daintree Microgrid Program ‘no-brainer’ as LNP recommit funds

The former Member for Leichhardt questioned Labor’s green credentials as the LNP recommited funds towards an environmental energy project, axed by the government this term.

LNP Leichhardt candidate Jeremy Neal with Yalanji traditional owners and Wujal Wujal residents Kathleen (left) and Francis Walker (right) discussing the Daintree Microgrid Program. Picture: Arun Singh Mann

The former Member for Leichhardt questioned Labor’s green credentials as the LNP recommited funds towards an environmental energy project, axed by the government this term.

The Coalition’s candidate for Leichhardt Jeremy Neal said an elected Peter Dutton government would recommit $18.75m towards the Daintree Microgrid Program, before former MP Warren Entsch began throwing the punches at his opponents.

But federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek hit back questioning the LNP’s sense of spending – all but stating Labor would not support the 9MW project in its current form.

The 8MW solar farm, and a 1MW clean hydrogen plant was initially funded by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his effort to retain Warren Entsch as the member for Leichhardt ahead of the 2022 election.

New artist impressions show the full extent of plans to create a new microgrid in the Daintree with a large solar farm. Picture: Supplied

Despite clearing environmental approvals under Labor, the funding was withdrawn by Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen last year, with his department claiming the proponent Volt had failed to meet its contractual obligations – a point disputed by Mr Entsch.

“I pleaded with Minister Bowen to get his (department) to do their bloody job in relation to getting approval from Australian Energy Regulator; it took 15 months before they gave approval and Bowen used the delay on that as the first excuse, they said (Volt) didn’t meet the time frames,” Mr Entsch said.

He said the “final straw” for withdrawal of the funding was due to missing the deadline on delivering infrastructure, with those efforts impeded by road damage caused during Cyclone Jasper in late 2023.

Jabalbina chief executive Josh Paterson with Yalanji traditional owners Kathleen and Francis Walker and former Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch discussing the Daintree Microgrid Program. Picture: Arun Singh Mann

“All the discarded oil is a serious threat to the reef when you’re talking about commitment to the environment, when you’re talking about commitments to the reef, you’re talking about commitments to the rainforest, this is an absolute no-brainer.”

Ms Plibersek refused to say whether she or the government had since met with Volt or the Yalanji traditional owners, however claimed the proponent was given “multiple opportunities” to meet its commitments.

“This is a government that has backed renewables at every opportunity, what we can’t do is back projects that are failing and keep giving taxpayers dollars to projects that are not proceeding in the way they have made commitments to proceed,” she said.

“I’m not sure why Peter Dutton thinks it’s a wise thing to give taxpayers’ dollars to a project that has had every opportunity to proceed and hasn’t managed to deliver what they’ve promised.”

Ms Plibersek would not commit to renegotiating the project, stating that was a job for the Energy and Climate Change Minister.

Mr Neal said the LNP’s conditions for its $18.75m commitment included a renewed business case and an equal contribution from Volt.

Originally published as Daintree Microgrid Program ‘no-brainer’ as LNP recommit funds