Some community members like Gippsland climate blogger Peter Gardner used the day to call for the Star of the South project to be fast-tracked.

Now, it’s clear pressure coming from the union movement and regional communities calling for action on climate change and offshore wind jobs is paying off. 

On Tuesday 6th October Treasurer Josh Frydenberg unveiled the Morrison government’s budget. The budget failed to deliver a post-Covid economic recovery plan that tackles the climate crisis. It has been missed opportunity for action on climate change and criticised for offering “token support” for renewable energy while expanding public funding for fossil fuels like gas. 

Buried in the budget is a commitment to ‘develop’ a national offshore clean energy framework over 2020-2021, a sign that the community campaign for offshore wind is working. This is the legal framework required to pave the way for the Star of the South offshore wind farm. As the Star of the South is proposed in Commonwealth Waters, without this framework there is no way to grant a generation license to the project. Its a decision that lies squarely with the federal government rather than the states.

It is good to see the federal Coalition government supporting technologies like offshore wind that will cut emissions, and this is a vote of confidence in the sector.

But if we compare the level of funding and detail for on offshore wind policy with the government’s plans for a so-called “gas-fired recovery” it’s clear the Morrison government still considers propping up fossil fuels a higher priority.

Offshore clean energy laws are too important to remain in development forever. Now the question is whether Energy Minister Angus Taylor can deliver on offshore wind in 2020?

Given the jobs and investment that would come with offshore wind projects, the federal government has opened itself up to the claim that they are going slow on developing a framework for offshore wind because of its ideological opposition to the technology.

While the Australian government begins taking baby steps, the UK government recently announced a major expansion of offshore wind with a plan to power every home in the country with wind power by 2030. This will see 40 gigawatts of wind energy built over the next decade. The UK already employs approximately 11,000 people in the offshore wind sector, with that figure expected to grow to as much as 27,000 by 2030.

While other jurisdictions are racing ahead on offshore wind, Australia risks being left behind with its go-slow approach.

Instead of trying to prop up fossil fuels, Energy Minister Angus Taylor should be using this time to bring to the national offshore clean energy framework to Parliament as a matter of urgency

Yes 2 Renewables will be paying close attention to progress on the offshore clean energy framework, and assessing whether Taylor can deliver on offshore wind in 2020.

TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition to get a move on with offshore wind

GET INVOLVED: Email patrick.simons@foe.org.au to contact Y2R Coordinator Pat Simons and get involved with the campaign

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