Renewable energy projects
195. Ms Kirrilee Warrto theMinister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the draft guideline regarding community benefits for renewable energy projects.
(1) Which local government authorities were consulted when preparing this document?
(2) How many of these local governments agree that this is the only action they need to mitigate unchecked and unregulated billion-dollar renewable projects encroaching on their regional communities?
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson replied:
(1)–(2) I welcome the question from the member and the interest from local governments on this issue. I held a round table with a number of regional local governments late last week. It was hosted by the Western Australian Local Government Association. Multiple local governments were consulted on the development of the draft guidelines, and the feedback from those local governments was that they wanted guidelines, not mandates. The feedback from industry was that it wanted guidelines, not mandates. We have taken into account all of that feedback. It is exactly that: feedback. It is out for consultation. This is now the formal part of consultation. That is how we start: we put it out publicly and ask for people's opinions.
I understand that that is an alien principle to the Liberal and National Parties, who have just discovered listening, so that is a new concept.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: No, I am mistaken. They have not actually discovered listening. I am not sure how much listening is actually going on on that listening tour, but, anyway, it was a great idea. "I have got a cracking idea! I tell you what, guys, let's listen!"
This is building on the work of the previous Minister for Energy, and it has been called for by local governments and industry. We are starting the conversations and negotiations around what the benefits for community are. This is outside of rate setting; rates are set in an entirely different process. This is to stop large proponents from picking off neighbours and picking off landowners. It is to provide benefits for the whole community over the life cycle of that asset, which can be 30 to 40 years.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: This can be really economically transformational for small local governments that have a really limited rate base. This is a genuine opportunity, not just to buy footy jerseys for the local team but to invest in local assets.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: We have been asked by the sector to provide the guidelines. The guidelines are in line with other states' and territories' guidelines. There are various models in other states and territories. Some are mandated and some have guidelines. The feedback that we had very strongly from both industry and local government was that they want guidelines. We want to start the conversation, but this is the consultation. If the member has something to say, I look forward to reading their submission.
196. Ms Kirrilee Warrto theMinister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I have a supplementary question. Is this feeble attempt to deliver guidelines for community benefits simply a diversion from the very real need to introduce a comprehensive, legally enforceable state planning policy that will deliver certainty to regional communities?
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson replied:
Let me explain. This is not the planning policy; that sits with the Minister for Planning and Lands. This is community benefits. This is a separate policy. We have the planning policy that sits alongside it. The Minister for Planning and Lands is going through all the requirements that he needs to implement that. This is a community benefits policy that sits alongside that policy.
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. Before I give the member for Thornlie the call, member for Geraldton, that supplementary question did have a lot of preamble to it. It was rather lengthy and may not have been directed to the right minister. In the future, just keep it a bit shorter, please.
