Richard Di Natale defends Bob Brown over wind farm opposition

Richard Di Natale adds to Bob Brown’s controversial opposition to a Tasmanian wind farm.

Green's leader Richard Di Natale has defended predecessor Bob Brown’s opposition to the Robbins Island wind farm.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has backed his predecessor Bob Brown’s concerns about a proposed wind farm on Tasmania’s Robbins Island, saying it needs to be subject to a thorough planning process.

Dr Brown told The Australian this week the wind farm was comparable to the Franklin Dam, and yesterday condemned the company behind the proposal, UPC Renewables, as a “profit-seeking multinational”. He has shocked many with his objections after supporting earlier wind farm developments in the state.

Asked whether it was a sign of renewable energy’s success that it’s now embraced by corporations “big and profitable enough to offend the Greens”, Senator Di Natale told Insiders the substance of Dr Brown’s criticism was the impact of the project on the local environment.

“This is an area where you’ve got migratory bird species, many of them threatened, nesting shore birds, and that’s why it needs to be subject to a thorough planning process,” Senator Di Natale said.

“The reality is that the Greens are very strong supporters of renewable energy.

“We understand that coal is the central problem when it comes to climate change, that we have to transition away from coal to renewable energy.

Montagu residents Colleen Murfitt (L) and Kim Anderson at Robbins Island passage off the northwest coast of Tasmania, the site of the proposed wind farm. Picture: Chris Crerar

“Under Bob, we had a big hand in establishing the Clean Energy Finance Corporation that has meant billions of dollars flowing into wind projects and solar projects, but even the strongest supporters of those projects wouldn’t say that every single site in the country is suitable site.

“You wouldn’t put offshore wind farms on the Great Barrier Reef or solar panels on the Opera House.”

Senator Di Natale said the details of the Robbins Island proposal weren’t yet clear.

“When there is a final proposal it will be subject to a whole bunch of planning laws,” he said.

‘We’re the real opposition’

Senator Di Natale also hit out at the Labor Party, condemning them from passing the Coalition’s suite of income tax cuts, arguing that the Labor Party has “decided that the best way to beat a terrible conservative government is by adopting their policies.”

“What we need is a real opposition in this country, and it’s very clear that the Greens are now the real opposition.

“It was the Labor Party, who, quite rightly in the lead-up to the election, talked about how important it was to improve the tax system, to deal with economic inequality.

“You had the deputy leader saying that it was a good thing that coal was coming to an end. “After the election, they’ve backed in the biggest tax cuts that we’ve seen. They’ve backed in the government’s flat tax, small government agenda.

“(Deputy leader) Richard Marles is out there saying that we should celebrate the coal industry. “You don’t beat the conservatives by adopting their policies.”

"You don't beat the Conservatives by adopting their policies," @RichardDiNatale says of Labor #insiders #auspol pic.twitter.com/D1aQaIYtBW

— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) July 20, 2019

Nick McKim ‘did the right thing’ on Manus

Senator Di Natale also defended fellow Greens senator Nick McKim, who was last week deported from Papua New Guinea after that country’s government accused him of failing to make appropriate arrangements to visit the asylum seeker detention centre on Manus Island.

Senator Di Natale said he was “absolutely” satisfied with Senator McKim’s conduct.

“What’s gone on here is that somebody, a decent person representing the voices of millions of Australians, has sought to shine a spotlight on what are horrific human rights abuses being contributed in the name of the Australian government,” he said.

Greens approach ‘beggars belief

Tasmanian Energy Minister Guy Barnett said it beggared belief that the Greens would oppose a project that, if approved, would have the potential to inject up to 1000 megawatts of renewable energy into the grid.

“Even worse, they are also jeopardising Tasmania’s position as the renewable energy powerhouse of Australia, which has the potential to inject up to $5 billion into our state’s economy and create thousands of jobs, particularly in regional Tasmania,” Mr Barnett said.

“The proposed wind farm at Robbins Island, like other developments of this size and type, is subject to rigorous development and environmental approvals, with the opportunity for public submissions.

“Earlier this week, after days of silence, Leader of the Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor revealed she is also against this massive renewable energy project in Tasmania.”