| Helen Haines’ communique dated 26 February 2021 stated: People living in regional Australia would be the big winners of my ambitious plan to drive a renewables-driven economic boom.My Australian Local Power Agency Bill, launched this week, would support regional communities to develop their own renewable projects. It would also allow them to partner with commercial developers to share in a slice of the sizeable profits being generated in renewables in regional Australia. Fellow Independent Zali Steggall MP, who seconded my bill, and Indi community energy group representatives joined me for the launch at a media conference in Parliament House, including Renewable Energy Mansfield’s Andrew Webb, Totally Renewable Yackandandah’s Juliette Millbank and Matt Charles-Jones, together with Community Power Agency’s Kristy Walters, South Coast Sustainability and Health Alliance’s Kathryn Maxwell, Farmers for Climate Action chair Charlie Prell and FCA and Haystacks Solar Garden’s Gemma Meier, and SolarShare’s Lawrence McIntosh. Yesterday, in Question Time, I asked Prime Minister Scott Morrison if he believed that people in regional Australia should have a legislated right to invest in renewable energy projects built in their communities. ‘Our government is considering the proposal in good faith, as I’ve said, and we will continue to work through that detail,’ he answered. ‘I note the (bill) that the member has brought before this House to that end, and we’re also considering the government’s support for community-driven renewable energy projects.’ View the Question Time clip, including an additional response from Energy Minister Angus Taylor. |