Coalition Puts Community First in Port Stephens
The Hon Peter Dutton MP
Leader of the Opposition
Mr Ted O’Brien MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Senator Ross Cadell
Senator for New South Wales
Mr Laurence Antcliff
Liberal Party Candidate for Paterson
Today we announce that a Dutton Coalition Government will rescind the Port Stephens Offshore Wind Zone – a decision that puts the local community first.
The Albanese Government has deliberately ignored serious economic, social and environmental concerns raised by local residents by this proposed wind zone.
The Prime Minister, and his Energy Minister Chris Bowen, have shown complete disregard to the people of Port Stephens, Newcastle, and the Hunter in a desperate attempt to achieve their ideological target of a renewables-only electricity grid.
Locals here treasure their waterways and they are deeply concerned about the potential impacts on migratory whale populations and tourism operations, including the recreational fishing industry.
Labor’s deeply flawed community engagement process has distressed and divided local residents. It failed to reassure local residents that their concerns were being listened to, or addressed.
Everyone from commercial and recreational fishers, tourism operators, community groups, small business owners and local residents have lined up to reject this proposal.
Most local residents were not aware that public consultations had already come and gone, unions were co-opting the process by pressuring for positive submissions, there were little to no in-person briefings, no answers to reasonable questions were ever provided, and many senior citizens were shut out of the process as it took electronic submissions only.
Enough is enough, and today we are announcing that this bungled project will not proceed under a Dutton Coalition Government.
Now the ball is in Mr Albanese and Mr Bowen’s court to ensure that the local community’s views are heard and respected – and we call on them to join us in rescinding this project.
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