Energy Minister Responds to Opposition Pledge to Axe Offshore Wind Farm

The Albanese government has responded after the federal opposition pledged to cancel a proposed offshore wind farm along the coast of Western Australia.
This project, spanning 4,000 square kilometres from Mandurah (south of the capital Perth) to Dunsborough, could accommodate up to 700 wind towers.
“[Opposition Leader] Peter Dutton’s own party wanted offshore wind so much they wrote the legislation to make it happen and set the rules for how consultation should run,” a spokesperson for Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s office told The Epoch Times.
He further said the Coalition had previously supported the project for “local jobs and Australian industry.”
“He needs to stop playing politics with regional communities’ futures,” the energy minister’s office said.
“Labor will compromise our environment and make power more expensive and less reliable,” he said.
He announced the project during a visit to Bunbury in September, stating it would generate up to 11.4 gigawatts of energy. Bowen highlighted the efficiency of wind energy, noting, “One turn of one turbine creates as much energy as solar panels on your roof all day.”
Bowen also addressed concerns about the visual impact, confirming that the towers would be positioned further offshore than initially planned. As the project advances, the federal government is calling for companies to apply for feasibility licences, with applications closing on Nov. 6.
Despite opposition from the Coalition, the Smart Energy Council and Greenpeace, have expressed support for the wind farm.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Liberal Party for further comment but did not receive a response before this story was filed.