The ALP says it would unlock billions of dollars in offshore wind to create thousands of jobs, demanding that the Morrison government bring offshore wind legislation to Parliament as ‘a matter of urgency’.
Environment group Friends of the Earth welcome the ALP's stance, and say it is time for the Prime Minister to step in and deliver offshore wind legislation after years of delay by Energy Minister Angus Taylor.
In a letter to Taylor, the ALP’s Shadow Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has questioned the government’s failure to deliver offshore wind legislation by mid-2021 as promised, outlining several projects that are now being delayed.
“Energy Minister Angus Taylor is failing to meet the government’s own promises to deliver offshore wind legislation and now at least twelve major offshore wind projects are facing unnecessary delays” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson.
Offshore wind is not currently permitted in Commonwealth Waters and without a national offshore wind regulatory framework, there is no clear legal process to grant licenses to build and operate offshore wind projects.
“With Energy Minister Angus Taylor continuing to fail on offshore wind, is it time for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to step in and deliver this important legislation?” asked Simons.
The twelve offshore wind proposals throughout the country now total more than 25 gigawatts in new renewable energy generation, representing thousands of new jobs and the potential for deep emissions cuts.
The opportunity to kickstart an offshore wind sector is too significant for action on climate change and jobs to keep delaying.
Friends of the Earth will be monitoring the Morrison government's next steps on national offshore wind legislation closely in the leadup to the next Parliamentary sitting.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Pat Simons, [email protected], 0415 789 961