Greens Leader Admits Limited Knowledge of Party’s Wind Farm Opposition, Calls for Stronger Environmental Protections
CANBERRA – Greens leader Larissa Waters has conceded she is not deeply familiar with the details of a proposed wind farm in Tasmania currently opposed by some of her party colleagues, stating, “I don’t know very much about that particular project.” The admission came as Senator Waters reiterated her party’s demand for significant reforms to Australia’s environmental laws, including the designation of “no-go zones” for development.
The wind farm project, located in Tasmania, has drawn criticism from within the Greens, with Senator Peter McKim reportedly saying, “but this is the wrong project in the wrong place.” veteran former Greens leader bob Brown has also publicly campaigned against the farm through his foundation.
Senator Waters used the controversy to highlight the need for stronger environmental safeguards as the nation accelerates its rollout of renewable energy. She argued that upcoming environmental law reforms – previously attempted by Labor in the last parliamentary term – should legally require the Surroundings Minister to consider climate change impacts when evaluating major infrastructure projects. The greens aim to leverage thes reforms to favor renewables while effectively blocking new fossil fuel ventures.
“You can’t have environmental laws that don’t protect the environment or think about the climate impacts of what we do,” Senator Waters stated. She further called for an end to native forest logging and the establishment of protected “no-go zones,” specifically referencing the Bowen Basin.
While supporting a quadrupling of renewable energy capacity, Senator Waters stopped short of endorsing the Climate Change Authority’s specific recommendation for wind power expansion by 2035, tied to a 62-70% emissions reduction target on 2005 levels.She expressed openness to various renewable technologies and sharply criticized Labor’s current climate target as “pathetic” and a threat to national safety.
The debate underscores the ongoing tension within the Greens party regarding the balance between environmental protection and the rapid expansion of renewable energy infrastructure needed to address climate change. The critically endangered orange-bellied parrot is among the species potentially impacted by development in the region.