December 2, 2011
Australia

Senator caught on hop; Sherry admits clueless to Waubra or its wind farm

By Brendan Gullifer, The Courier, thecourier.com.au 2 December 2011

An ALP Senator was caught on the hop last week when he was forced to admit he didn’t know the location of Waubra wind farm.

Senator Nick Sherry, representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, was answering questions from Ballarat-based Senator John Madigan. “Can the minister confirm that the Waubra wind farm is yet to be signed off as a compliant operation?” Senator Madigan asked.

Following several interjections and a call to order from the Senate president, Senator Sherry responded: “Specifically on the issue of the Waubra wind farm, I am not familiar with the wind farm or where it is located. I suspect it is in Victoria.”

Senator Madigan then spelt out the word “Waubra”.

“Waubra,” Senator Sherry responded. “Apologies to Waubra. I am not familiar with where it is.”

Senator Sherry then replied wind farm regulation was a matter for state and territory authorities.

Senator Madigan asked if the federal government had issued any renewable energy credits to this or any other non-compliant wind farm and how many had been issued.

Senator Sherry said he would take the question on notice and referred Senator Madigan to the website of the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator. With 128 turbines, Waubra wind farm is the largest in the southern hemisphere.

Senator Sherry is also the Minister for Small Business, the Minister Assisting on Deregulation and the Minister Assisting on Tourism.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/12/02/senator-caught-on-hop-sherry-admits-clueless-to-waubra-or-its-wind-farm/