DEAR News Of The Area,
I WANT to call out the blatant hypocrisy and political opportunism driving the aggressive campaign against offshore wind projects in Port Stephens.
Opponents of offshore wind made alarmist claims about its potential impact on the marine environment, while at the same time aligning themselves with the Liberal Party, a party with a well-documented record of inaction on climate and environmental protection.
Sensing a political opportunity, the Liberal Party quickly amplified this opposition to secure votes in a marginal seat.
The “No Offshore Turbines Port Stephens” group rapidly mobilised local opposition to offshore wind by spreading misinformation eerily similar to U.S. MAGA-style disinformation tactics, falsely claiming wind farms kill whales and ruin the marine environment.
These narratives aren’t grassroots, they’re part of a broader, coordinated effort tied to fossil fuel interests.
This group’s links to Advance Australia, a well-known disinformation outfit behind the “No” campaign against the Voice referendum, became clear when Sandra Bourke, a representative of Advance, supported local events distributing membership cards.
This mirrors global tactics used to erode public support for renewable energy and threatens the social licence critical for Australia’s clean energy transition.
While offshore wind was an election issue in the seat of Paterson, it was clearly not a concern for voters, nor did it rate a mention, in the neighbouring seats of Newcastle, Hunter, or Shortland, demonstrating the Hunter region’s support for the continued development of a clean energy future.
Democracy has spoken, and it’s time to put an end to the misinformation and environmental fearmongering surrounding offshore wind.
It’s time to move forward with a proper, fact-based assessment of the environmental and economic impacts of the Hunter offshore wind industry, ensuring the region can seize the opportunities of a clean energy future.
Regards,
Justin PAGE,
Coordinator,
Hunter Jobs Alliance.
