LNP Promises Strict Audits for Renewable Energy Projects in Victoria
Amid the recent changes in the federal Liberal Party, an intriguing political confrontation has emerged in Victoria involving the Coalition opposition and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. Both parties are fiercely competing for the anti-renewables vote ahead of the upcoming state election in November.
Last week, the Victorian Liberal Party unveiled plans to implement “rigorous new independent audits and economic impact assessments on energy projects” should they gain power. Shadow energy minister David Davis expressed that the communities in regional Victoria are increasingly worried about the Allan Labor government’s renewable energy rollout, which he claims fails to adequately consider long-term consequences on agriculture and food production.
Policy Changes in Agricultural and Economic Assessments
Davis stated, “Under a Liberal and Nationals government, independent assessments concerning agriculture and regional economies will become obligatory as part of the approvals for major renewable energy projects and transmission developments, ensuring that prime farmland remains protected.”
Shadow agriculture minister Emma Kealy added that this new policy aligns with the party’s earlier pledge to reverse Labor’s changes, which she argues disregarded community consultation processes. “We will restore farmers’ voices by enabling them to challenge unsuitable developments through the VCAT, instead of forcing them into lengthy, complex, and costly legal disputes,” Kealy noted.
Kealy’s references point to the Allan government’s expansion of the Development Facilitation Program (DFP) two years prior to incorporate renewable energy and storage projects, an alteration that has sparked dissent in regional circles.
Impact of the Development Facilitation Program
The most contentious aspect of this rule amendment was the prohibition of third-party appeals to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for projects passed under the DFP, a decision the Victorian Farmers Federation has condemned as potentially detrimental to farmers and regional communities who rely on their land for their livelihoods.
In response, Premier Jacinta Allan remarked that significant renewable projects were often delayed for years while awaiting approval, contributing to a backlog of approximately $90 billion in investment value awaiting clearance. According to a recent report from the Clean Energy Council, only four renewable energy projects were finalised in Victoria in 2023, consisting of two solar farms and two wind farms. This places the state behind its renewable targets of 65% by 2030 and 95% by 2035.
The planning department in Victoria has thus far employed the DFP to expedite approvals for 22 solar, wind, and battery initiatives. State energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio claimed that record investments in renewables are responsible for achieving the lowest wholesale power prices across Australia.
Economic and Social Scrutiny of Energy Projects
Davis acknowledged the importance of renewable energy in Victoria’s future but stressed the necessity of acquiring social and economic licences for these projects. “This initiative aims to reinstate fairness, transparency, and proper community oversight in planning decisions that directly influence Victoria’s food security and the livelihoods of those in regional areas,” he added.
Renew Economy has reached out to David Davis for additional details regarding the independent audits and the organisations that would conduct them, but has yet to receive a reply. Meanwhile, RE-Alliance, which collaborates with farmers and regional communities across Australia, reports hearing legitimate concerns from these communities about the advance of significant energy infrastructure. Nonetheless, they also note that misinformation is fuelling these concerns.
Community Engagement and Calls for Better Dialogue
In a stark contrast, One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce made headlines with his passionate address at the inaugural Across Victoria Alliance conference in Horsham, where he strongly opposed the VNI West transmission project.
