Man who heckled PM Anthony Albanese claims Labor ‘trying to bury’ inquiry on offshore wind industry 

An anti–offshore wind farm campaigner has slammed Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen and Labor, claiming they ignored and failed to listen to the concerns of locals in a NSW south coast community before declaring a site for offshore renewable energy.

The federal government in June last year approved a fourth offshore wind zone, located in the Pacific Ocean and off the Illawarra coast, at a reduced size of 1,022 kilometres.

It would see turbines erected 20 kilometres off the coast from Wombarra to Kiama.

President of Responsible Future Alex O’Brien and other locals against the project confronted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who was in Lake Illawarra on Friday.

“Why don’t we put them in front of your place?” one man shouted.

“No offshore wind turbines, Albo. We don’t even care about it. We don’t want you here.”

Speaking to Sky News host Laura Jayes after the Labor leader left in his car, Mr O’Brien said he and other residents turned up as they were tired of being ignored.

“We heard the PM was coming down and for almost a year now our community has been calling out for a re-engagement in regard to this project,” he told AM Agenda.

“And its fallen on deaf ears. We’ve got an inquiry at the moment in the Senate that is being roadblocked by the Greens and Labor. It’s been over six months now that we’ve been waiting and they’re trying to bury it. That’s our feeling.”

The report on offshore wind industry was due to be released on Thursday, but the committee earlier this week granted a one-month extension to March 13.

Jayes questioned if Mr O’Brien had approached Mr Albanese, Stephen Jones, the local outgoing federal MP, or any other ministers about his concerns of the project.

The anti-offshore wind farm campaigner claimed he reached out to Climate Energy Minister Chris Bowen on multiple occasions but has not received a response.

He has concerns about the project, pointing to the numerous developers, including a world-leading offshore wind company, which have abandoned development plans.

Mr O’Brien also claimed it would cost taxpayers $5 billion a year to operate.

“And it’s the environmental impact, 65 per cent of the community down here said no to the offshore wind project. There is suppose to be something called social licence, the Illawarra has rejected that. So what more can this community do?” he asked.

“We’ve held rallies. We’ve held events. We’ve had petitions signed in the thousands and this community continues to be ignored.

“We’re not climate deniers. We have real concerns and they’re not listened to.”

Mr O’Brien also flagged 77 per cent of the submissions pointed to the environmental impact as the biggest concern, with transmission lines planned to run through Killalea National Park and also through Lake Illawarra, which are two protected areas.

In December he met with Liberal candidate for Gilmore Andrew Constance and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who promised to scrap the project if he was elected.

The offshore wind farm can deliver up to 2.9 gigawatts of power, enough to light up 1.8 million homes and has a price tag of $10 billion.

Public consultation led to the size of the zone being reduced from 1,461 kilometres to 1,022 kilometres and increased double the length offshore to 20 kilometres.

Mr O’Brien said he supported Mr Dutton’s nuclear proposal.

“If we want steel manufacturing in this country, we need cheap, reliable energy,” he said.

“You’re not going to get that from the most expensive form of renewable energy which is floating offshore wind and green hydrogen that is not going to be feasible for decades.”

He also believes the project would make “a lot of money” for overseas developers but destroy his community and impact local jobs.

“We need independent energy panels and we need to think about the future of kids like my daughter and this is why I’m fighting, this is why I’m here,” he said.

“I cannot stomach the fact that for future generations we’re going to be stuck with subsidising uneconomical energy projects that are based on ideology rather than what’s good for this country. And that’s I’m here.”