Independent Member for Indi Helen Haines and Independent Senator for the ACT David Pocock worked with the Federal Government to establish the review and write the terms of reference.
As a regional Independent MP who supports efforts to move to renewable energy, Dr Haines recognised the damage being done to regional communities through poor consultation by project developers.
The independent review, led by Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer, held a series of roundtables across the country, including in Indi, meeting with local governments, businesses, landowners and community groups.
The final report made a series of recommendations to reform how energy developers engage with regional and rural communities impacted by large-scale projects.
“Australia’s renewable energy rollout is well under way in the regions, but the failure to properly consult with rural communities affected by large-scale energy projects risks delaying or derailing our shift to a clean energy future,” Dr Haines said.
“There are some excellent examples of renewable projects that bring prosperity to farmers and benefits to local communities, I want that to be the norm not the exception.
“This report is a road map for improving how people are consulted when energy projects are developed in their communities and how they might benefit from these projects.
“I welcomed the recommendations and I called on the government to fund them in the federal budget, which they have done.
“If the government is serious about meeting its net-zero targets and gaining community support for the energy transition, they are going to have to work quickly and effectively with state and territory governments, energy developers and regional communities to get the transition right.
“I’ve met with Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen to make the case for regional Australia to truly benefit from the renewable energy transition.
“We must see transformational investment in regional development that will create enduring prosperity for our rural communities."
This month, Dr Haines moved a series of amendments to the government’s Net Zero Economy Authority Bill. The Bill ensures communities transitioning away from coal and gas are supported and benefit from the shift to a net-zero emissions economy.
“I successfully amended the Net Zero Economy Authority Bill to secure greater representation for regional Australia within the authority,” she said.
“I agree with the aims of the Bill – it's important to support communities transitioning away from coal and gas.
“However, the Bill does not address the challenges of other regional communities, like those in Indi, who have never hosted coal-fired or gas-fired power stations that now find themselves on the front-line of the nation’s shift to renewables.”
One key amendment, not adopted by the government, would have created Local Energy Hubs to provide information about the energy transformation and support regional communities to develop energy models that benefit their towns.
“The creation of a network of Local Energy Hubs would create avenues for local participation and build the trust needed to achieve our decarbonisation goals, while delivering long-term regional development,” Dr Haines said.
“The shift to renewables is being strongly felt across regional and rural communities who sense this shift is happening to them, rather than with them.
“The Federal Government has an opportunity and responsibility to support all regional communities involved in the energy transition.
“It is essential that new energy infrastructure projects provide meaningful benefit to the communities that host them.
“Regional people must see more affordable housing, investment in childcare, accessible local healthcare and better roads.
“Long-term regional development is what rural communities need and deserve from the transition to a net-zero economy.”
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