Shadow Climate Change and Energy Minister Ted O’Brien says the government must “resend” the declaration for a proposed offshore wind program in the Hunter and fix a “broken community” engagement process.
The Australian government declared an area in the Pacific Ocean off the Hunter as suitable for future offshore wind development earlier this year.
“The community has not been listened to. This is a community that relies on industries like tourism and commercial fishing. This is their livelihoods.”
“I’ve heard stories of senior citizens being denied the opportunity to make submissions because the government refused to take handwritten ones.”
The remarks follow Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s calls for the government to improve its consultation with the community.
