National Rally Against “Reckless Renewables” Sparks Urgent Calls For Government Action

By Amanda Wright

In a show of grassroots opposition, concerned citizens from across the nation gathered on February 6 in front of Parliament House in Canberra for the National Rally Against Reckless Renewables.

The event, held on the first sitting day of Parliament, aimed to address growing concerns over the Australian Government's approach to renewable energy initiatives.

The rally, organized by the National Rational Energy Network, drew participants from various regional communities directly impacted by the proliferation of renewable energy projects.

“Australian consumers, taxpayers, and industries require an electricity network that is efficient, safe, reliable, secure, and affordable,” a spokesperson for the rally said.

“It is critical for Australia, now and in the future, to establish a network that does not damage our unique environment, particularly productive agricultural land, fisheries, and native habitats.

“This government’s reckless rollout of “renewables” poses a significant threat to our nation, threatening food production for Australians and 80 million consumers globally.

“Our fauna and flora are facing unprecedented destruction, as hundreds of thousands of hectares of land and ocean floors are being deforested and/or damaged.”

One of the central demands of the rally was the urgent establishment of a Senate Inquiry to scrutinise the technical validity, economic costs, and environmental impacts of renewable energy initiatives.

Participants also called for the immediate suspension of all renewable energy projects pending the outcome of the Senate Inquiry. Concerns were raised about the lack of meaningful community consultation and the potential long-term consequences of hasty decision-making in the energy sector.

Another focal point of the rally was the lifting of the ban on nuclear power, with advocates arguing that nuclear energy offers a reliable and low-emission alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

A group from Mackay supporting the ‘Save Eungella’ initiative travelled to Canberra to speak against the proposed pumped hydro scheme planned for Eungella by the Queensland Government.

“We have to save this for our environment, our threatened and endemic species, and our kids' futures,” a Save Eungella group spokesperson said.

“We have to let the pollies know they have chosen the wrong place, and the wrong community, to force this industrial destruction onto.”

While in Canberra, the group spoke with Tanya Plibersek, Australian Minister for the Environment and Water, and gave her a copy of the award-winning publication "Eungella: Land of Clouds".

Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce, Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry and Senator Matthew Canavan also joined hundreds from across Australia at the rally to push back against what they describe as a “relentless push for 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030 which is causing industrial scale destruction to native bushland”.

Michelle Landry stated that she was proud to stand alongside members of the Eungella and Netherdale communities who have travelled to Canberra to make their voices heard.

“State Labor’s pie-in-the-sky $12 billion pumped hydro scheme will flood 937 hectares of pristine rainforest wilderness. That’s a whopping 1753 football fields of pristine rainforest and the Netherdale region completely wiped off the map,” Ms Landry said.

“To reach Labor’s net zero targets, a 7MW wind turbine must be erected every 18 hours and 22,000 solar panels installed every day. These figures are astonishing and a major cause for concern that Labor has not been willing to hold an inquiry on impacts renewable energy projects have on both the environment and regional communities.

“Now, more than ever, we must look to the lessons learnt by other developed nations who have learnt the lesson the hard way about investing into unreliable renewable energy and take stock of newer technologies that will deliver not just clean but reliable base level power,” Ms Landry said.

Colin Boyce said it's time the wider public in Australia woke up to the realities of what is happening in respect to the whole push for renewable energy.

“Both solar and wind renewable projects will have an enormous impact on both rural and regional Australia, especially for the agricultural industry,” Mr Boyce said.

“These projects will decimate large areas of remnant native forest. The environmental protocols that are cast upon the agriculture and mining sectors simply do not apply to the renewable energy sector.

“This has been deliberately designed like this, to expedite renewable projects and to help them along as much as possible. It is a sham,” Mr Boyce said.

Senator for Queensland, Matthew Canavan, said regional communities have reason to be concerned about renewable energy projects.

"Renewables are destroying our landscapes, destroying our agricultural land and this is becoming a bigger and bigger concern for a large number of communities around the country.

“The fact that we had people travel from Central Queensland all the way down to Canberra shows how much these projects are impacting people's lives, and how much Labor's reckless push for these projects is destroying our land,” Senator Canavan stated.

The rally featured a large array of speakers, with notable figures from politics, academia, and industry lending their voices to the discussion. Among the lineup were influential politicians such as Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Senator Barnaby Joyce MP, Senator Pauline Hanson, Bob Katter MP, and Senator Matt Canavan, each offering unique perspectives on the pressing issues surrounding renewable energy initiatives. Additionally, experts from various fields, including Dr. Anne Webster MP, Professor Peter Ridd, and Mr. Alan Moran, provided valuable insights into the economic, social, and environmental implications of current energy policies.

While the rally concluded peacefully, its message reverberated across the political landscape, sparking urgent calls for government action as Australia grapples with the challenges of transitioning to a more sustainable energy future.

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Michelle Landry supported locals from Netherdale and Eungella at the National Rally Against Reckless Renewables held in Canberra earlier this month. Photos supplied: Michelle Landry

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