Move to finally legalise offshore wind farms

Offshore wind farms are a step closure to becoming a reality in Australia after the Morrison government has moved to legalise the industry.

Offshore wind farms are a step closure to becoming a reality in Australia after the Morrison government has moved to legalise the industry.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor on Thursday introduced long-awaited legislation to establish a framework for the construction and operation of major wind turbines off Australia’s coast.

“An offshore electricity industry in Australia will further strengthen our economy, create jobs and opportunities for Australians, and enhance the delivery of affordable and reliable power,” Mr Taylor said.

The bill was referred to a Senate committee which will produce a report ahead of the next parliamentary sittings in October.

Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes and fellow billionaire Andrew Forrest are backers of the giant Sun Cable proposal off the Northern Territory, which aims to send electricity from the world’s biggest solar farm to Singapore by 2027. Another proposal, the $10bn Star of the South wind farm off the Gippsland coast, could supply 20 per cent of Victoria’s electricity needs.

“Passage of this bill will help progress a number of projects that are already under development including Star of the South off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria, and Sun Cable in our north,” Mr Taylor said. “The legislation covers infrastructure projects for offshore electricity transmission cables and offshore renewable energy generation, including offshore wind and ensures coexistence with other users of the offshore area would be managed from the start.”

Opposition climate change spokesman Chris Bowen criticised the government for not legalising the sector earlier.

“Offshore wind is great for emissions reductions and good for jobs. But it isn’t legal In Australia,” Mr Bowen tweeted.

“Today, on the last day of this sitting and after months of calls from Labor, Angus Taylor is finally introducing legislation to make it legal.”