The Nationals have secured a major win for Illawarra locals, after the bidder for the offshore wind zone project asked for its application to be paused until after the federal election.
Leader David Littleproud said The Nationals had fought tirelessly against Labor’s bad idea and it was clear the local Illawarra community didn’t want it.
“The Nationals were the first political party to have the courage to commit to ruling this project out last year and instead prioritise protecting the natural environment,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The Nationals have led the way in stopping Labor’s bad plan. With the help of The Nationals’ candidate for Whitlam, Katrina Hodgkinson, we will continue to do so, because the community knows Katrina has been a strong advocate and a local champion in stopping this project.
“In fact, just last week, the anti-wind farm locals proudly rallied with us. They know The Nationals will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in this fight.
“The only way to stop this project now, once and for all, is to vote for Katrina Hodgkinson at the election.
“Despite their tricks, a vote for Labor in Whitlam could still mean a vote for the offshore wind farm.”
Ms Hodgkinson said she is proud to be part of a team that said ‘no’ to this project, first.
“I will continue my dedicated opposition to the Labor/Greens proposed offshore wind farm, who have ignored locals for months on end,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“There has been little community consultation and the project still doesn’t have environmental approvals, despite being on a whale migration path. It has been widely rejected by the local community.
“The Nationals have also long stated we have time to plan and pause, rather than Labor’s all-renewables approach which will destroy the very thing it is meant to protect – the environment.
“The project is clearly now in doubt but sadly it took the passion of the community to force this to be paused, rather than Labor listening to the concerns of locals.”
Nationals Senator for NSW Ross Cadell said Minister Chris Bowen had been arrogant throughout the process, claiming the project would be smaller in size and further offshore.
“This ‘smaller’ project would still cover a huge 1,022 square kilometres,” Senator Cadell said.
“This project was always a dumb idea that was never going to work. It was an unrealistic project backed by a Minister devoid of reality.
“Even with an overreach of Minister Bowen’s influence to make the project stack up, no private developer was willing to risk their own name on this fanciful idea.
“The industry has voted with its capital. I encourage the people of the Illawarra to share their frustration with Minister Bowen at the ballot box.”
