Guy Barnett,Minister for Energy
Even renewable energy is not safe from the Greens’ anti-everything agenda, with former leader Bob Brown confirming his opposition to the Robbins Island wind farm development.
It beggars belief that Dr Brown would oppose a project that, if approved, will not only create hundreds of jobs on Tasmania’s North West, but also has the potential to inject up to 1000 megawatts of renewable energy into the grid.
When combined with other wind farm developments and our plans for the Marinus second interconnector and pumped hydro, it has the potential to inject up to $5 billion into our state’s economy and create thousands of jobs, particularly in regional Tasmania.
To be clear, 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.
Dr Brown and the Greens have actively campaigned for the shutdown of the entire Australian coal industry and demanded we turn to renewables to deal with climate change. Such is his commitment to perpetual protest that he has now turned his sights to opposing renewables. For him to oppose this project, which is exactly in line with the Greens renewable mantra, is yet another display of breathtaking hypocrisy.
It is now incumbent on Cassy O’Connor to immediately condemn Dr Brown’s opposition to this project and confirm her support for Tasmania’s renewable energy future.
