❓ The WA Minister criticises the federal Minister's inconsistent application of community support requirements for wind farms versus other projects like roads and nuclear waste facilities, accusing him of ideological bias against sustainable energy.
AnsweredQoN 199Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WIND FARMS
My question without notice is to the world’s best Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. I refer to the recent statements by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Ian Campbell, indicating that unless wind farm projects have 100 per cent community support, he will stop them. What is this government’s response to this extraordinary statement? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
My question without notice is to the world’s best Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. I refer to the recent statements by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Ian Campbell, indicating that unless wind farm projects have 100 per cent community support, he will stop them. What is this government’s response to this extraordinary statement? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I think my first ever visit to the wonderful Albany wind farm, which a substantial number of people opposed at its inception, was with the member for Albany. There has never been a wind farm project that has had universal support from the outset. If we were to set the bar as has now been set by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, we would not have any further wind farms. We suspect that that is probably the intent. An opposition member interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I will make some comments about Denmark. The extraordinary thing about the Denmark wind farm is that it is a community project. It is not coming from the state government or from some evil corporation; it is actually a project coming from the community. About 60 families in that area have put in submissions opposing it. However, many people in that community support it. We are now talking about setting the bar - Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question. I think my first ever visit to the wonderful Albany wind farm, which a substantial number of people opposed at its inception, was with the member for Albany. There has never been a wind farm project that has had universal support from the outset. If we were to set the bar as has now been set by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, we would not have any further wind farms. We suspect that that is probably the intent. An opposition member interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I will make some comments about Denmark. The extraordinary thing about the Denmark wind farm is that it is a community project. It is not coming from the state government or from some evil corporation; it is actually a project coming from the community. About 60 families in that area have put in submissions opposing it. However, many people in that community support it. We are now talking about setting the bar - Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
I thank the member for the question. I think my first ever visit to the wonderful Albany wind farm, which a substantial number of people opposed at its inception, was with the member for Albany. There has never been a wind farm project that has had universal support from the outset. If we were to set the bar as has now been set by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, we would not have any further wind farms. We suspect that that is probably the intent. An opposition member interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I will make some comments about Denmark. The extraordinary thing about the Denmark wind farm is that it is a community project. It is not coming from the state government or from some evil corporation; it is actually a project coming from the community. About 60 families in that area have put in submissions opposing it. However, many people in that community support it. We are now talking about setting the bar - Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
An opposition member interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I will make some comments about Denmark. The extraordinary thing about the Denmark wind farm is that it is a community project. It is not coming from the state government or from some evil corporation; it is actually a project coming from the community. About 60 families in that area have put in submissions opposing it. However, many people in that community support it. We are now talking about setting the bar - Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I will make some comments about Denmark. The extraordinary thing about the Denmark wind farm is that it is a community project. It is not coming from the state government or from some evil corporation; it is actually a project coming from the community. About 60 families in that area have put in submissions opposing it. However, many people in that community support it. We are now talking about setting the bar - Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question. I think my first ever visit to the wonderful Albany wind farm, which a substantial number of people opposed at its inception, was with the member for Albany. There has never been a wind farm project that has had universal support from the outset. If we were to set the bar as has now been set by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, we would not have any further wind farms. We suspect that that is probably the intent. An opposition member interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I will make some comments about Denmark. The extraordinary thing about the Denmark wind farm is that it is a community project. It is not coming from the state government or from some evil corporation; it is actually a project coming from the community. About 60 families in that area have put in submissions opposing it. However, many people in that community support it. We are now talking about setting the bar - Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
I thank the member for the question. I think my first ever visit to the wonderful Albany wind farm, which a substantial number of people opposed at its inception, was with the member for Albany. There has never been a wind farm project that has had universal support from the outset. If we were to set the bar as has now been set by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, we would not have any further wind farms. We suspect that that is probably the intent. An opposition member interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I will make some comments about Denmark. The extraordinary thing about the Denmark wind farm is that it is a community project. It is not coming from the state government or from some evil corporation; it is actually a project coming from the community. About 60 families in that area have put in submissions opposing it. However, many people in that community support it. We are now talking about setting the bar - Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
An opposition member interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I will make some comments about Denmark. The extraordinary thing about the Denmark wind farm is that it is a community project. It is not coming from the state government or from some evil corporation; it is actually a project coming from the community. About 60 families in that area have put in submissions opposing it. However, many people in that community support it. We are now talking about setting the bar - Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I will make some comments about Denmark. The extraordinary thing about the Denmark wind farm is that it is a community project. It is not coming from the state government or from some evil corporation; it is actually a project coming from the community. About 60 families in that area have put in submissions opposing it. However, many people in that community support it. We are now talking about setting the bar - Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : No. The statutory planning committee was split on it; the council was split on it. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Stirling! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : If we now start with the process that has been suggested by the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, whereby we must have virtually unanimous community support, or we must have local government support, there will be some very interesting outcomes for the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. That minister has long supported, and, indeed, has been a very vocal supporter of, Roe Highway stage 8. People will be aware of the many community groups that have protested about Roe Highway stage 8. Indeed, the Minister for Science and Innovation was at a rally of some 1 100 people - far more than the number of people who oppose the Denmark wind farm. Hon Simon O’Brien was also at that rally opposing stage 8. There was widespread opposition. However, when Minister Campbell was confronted by these groups, he said that the event had been hijacked by the Greens and a few others - small, single-issue interest groups. He said that Roe Highway stage 8 should be built now, and was long overdue. When there is a project that he wants, such as a road, as opposed to a wind farm, he takes a completely different attitude. That is what happens if the bar is local opposition. If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
If the bar is local government opposition, let us consider his other pet project. I have an article with me headed “Libs still want the bypass”. It states that Senator Campbell, federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, is still out there agitating for the Fremantle eastern bypass. Many members on this side of the house know that time and again the Fremantle City Council has absolutely opposed this bypass. Indeed, it has opposed it for decades. He says that we cannot justify wind farms unless we have the support of local councils, but the Fremantle eastern bypass and highways are a different kettle of fish. I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
I will go on to deal with another interesting project that Senator Campbell has under way at the moment. This is a project involving a nuclear waste dump. I have with me a note of what Senator Campbell said about this. It states - SENATOR IAN CAMPBELL: Well, at the moment that is not an issue. We’re building a low-level nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. He condemned those people opposing it and said - We have a very bad ideological Labor Party policy that is stopping that occurring. The local government, which is the Northern Territory government, is absolutely opposed to the process that the federal government is undertaking. However, Senator Campbell is saying, “We don’t care; we’re going to build it.” We are seeing a great sensitivity towards community opinion. We are seeing an ideological contempt for sustainable energy alternatives, and Senator Campbell will invoke any excuse whatsoever to sink a wind farm project. He should not be the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.