Liberal Senate hopeful Andrew Constance has been accused of putting his political ambitions ahead of “sound policy based on facts” after he backed opponents of a proposed offshore wind farm zone in New South Wales’ Illawarra region.
Constance, a former NSW cabinet minister, told a public meeting on Monday that the federal government needed to put the brakes on plans to create an offshore wind zone between Wollongong and Gerringong. The zone is one of six offshore wind zone areas announced by the Albanese government.
The debate over offshore wind energy in NSW has been mired in misinformation, with prominent claims that the turbines kill whales, following similar claims in the US. Scientists have said these claims were not backed by evidence.
The event in the Illawarra was attended by about 80 people and featured speakers from the anti-windfarm coalition and a local lobster farmer. It was the last meeting before community submissions for the proposed windfarm zone close on Wednesday. Several speakers raised the potential impact on migratory birds and whales.
Constance told the audience he doubted the viability of offshore wind farms in the area due to inflation and supply constraints, and raised concerns about their impact on the environment and tourism.
“We are right to expect our government to do its homework first,” he said.
Constance, a moderate Liberal, is running for a vacant Senate spot following the resignation of the former foreign affairs minister Marise Payne. The spot is expected to be decided later this month.
“If I’m successful, I can back you,” Constance told the audience, later urging them to vote Liberal.
Constance told the Illawarra meeting people were entitled to ask “some pretty fundamental questions” about the environmental impact of the Illawarra proposal. “I understand the stress and concern about the whale migration,” he said.
Peter Dutton and longtime renewable energy opponent Barnaby Joyce have also expressed opposition to offshore wind farms. Joyce told a rally in Port Stephens last month that support for renewable energy was a cult and urged the crowd to fight back.
The independent MP Zali Steggall, who has been advocating for changes enforcing truth in political advertising, said Constance appeared to be motivated by winning a Senate seat. “Clearly, it shows this is about politics and political ambition to get elected rather than sound policy based on facts,” she said.
Steggall said the environmental impact of offshore wind farms had “to be weighed against the overall benefits in our transition to renewable energy and to move away from fossil fuels”.
“The environmental impact is far greater if we continue burning fossil fuel than if we have minimal environmental impact by localised projects, like offshore wind,” she said.
In response to Steggall’s comments, Constance said: “I look forward to seeing Zali Steggall call for an additional zone off Manly in light of her confidence in Bowen’s so called open and transparent processes.”
Constance echoed other speaker’s concerns during the meeting that the government had not provided enough information. “[Climate change and energy minister] Chris Bowen is making it up as he goes along, quite frankly,” Constance said.
“Countries around the world are only starting to look at floating wind turbine technology and for Minister Bowen to do zones without any evidence base for the Illawarra and Hunter, in light of the unique features of our coast, is grossly irresponsible,” he later told Guardian Australia.
Towards the end of the two-hour meeting, an audience member asked whether the speakers were equally concerned about the impact of climate change on marine life.
The person asking the question was heckled, with one audience member shouting “you greenies are killing the environment”. Another said: “I’m not concerned about climate change.”
Amanda De Lore, a speaker at the event and one of the founders of the anti-offshore wind coalition, said “we’re all very concerned about the environment and we know about climate change”, but suggested the offshore wind zone was a more immediate concern. “This is something that’s going to impact on us not in 30 years, it’s coming soon.”
Constance acknowledged climate change was already happening, referring to his experience during the Black Summer bushfires, and said innovation was needed.
“There is no doubt there is a change in the environment,” he said. “We should be looking at this whole issue differently, it shouldn’t be dividing us.”
• This article was corrected on 15 November 2023 to clarify that the Liberal party organised the public meeting and the Coalition Against Offshore Wind was an invited guest.
