What is the Senate Inquiry on Offshore Wind Consultation Processes?
In a win for the community, a Senate Inquiry into offshore wind consultation processes was announced on 3 July 2024 following a motion by Nationals Senator Ross Cadell.
Submissions close on 30 August 2024 and the report is due on the last sitting day in February 2025.
The Senate Inquiry is about consultation, so you don’t need to be an expert on offshore wind projects to share your perspective and experience. There are tips for preparing your submission which can be found here.
Information on government site about Making a Submission.
Submissions are to be uploaded onto the Australian Government website Link to Australian Government Site to Make a Submission
Why is this Important?
This Senate Inquiry is focused on consultation across Australia, so don’t worry if you’re not deeply researched. You don’t need to be an expert on offshore wind projects to share your perspective and experiences. This is a chance for all Australians affected by offshore wind proposals to speak up about how these projects have been communicated and consulted with their communities.
We urge you to make a submission to the Senate Inquiry if you have concerns about the consultation processes used by the Australian government regarding offshore wind proposals. This is an important opportunity for communities across Australia to voice their opinions on how we’ve been consulted about these projects.
Please note that this Inquiry covers offshore wind across the entire country, not just the Illawarra. If you’re from other areas in Australia affected by offshore wind proposals, your input is also crucial—please consider making a submission.
Terms of Reference of the Senate Inquiry
The consultation process undertaken on behalf of the Australian Government into the offshore wind industry, with particular reference to:
(a) the efficacy of community engagement and benefit in planning, developing and operating the offshore wind industry;
(b) community engagement within the existing Australian Government offshore wind industry regulatory and legislative frameworks;
(c) the adherence to the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent from Traditional Owners of the affected Sea Country by the Australian Government and offshore wind industry;
(d) the impact of the offshore wind industry on marine life and marine environments in Australian waters, including strategies for impact minimisation and management; and
(e) any other related matters.
Please don’t feel overwhelmed if you do not have a view on each of these points. You do not need to address each one so just make a submission on the points which are important to you. Use the attached guide we have prepared to help you on the questions you choose to address.
How to Make a Submission?
Submissions are to be uploaded onto the Australian Government website Link to Australian Government Site to Make a Submission.
Information on making a submission can also be found here on the government site.
We have included the relevant screenshots and steps for each step in the process below:
Tips for Preparing Your Senate Inquiry Submission
This Senate Inquiry is focused on the consultation processes. The main focus is not whether this makes sense from an environmental, technical or economic perspective. It is important that you read each of the terms of reference and address each one separately.
A detailed document has been prepared to help you think about what to include in your submission. Access the PDF document by clicking on this button (as this is a PDF document it is better viewed on a computer rather than a mobile device):
What you will find in this Guide?
The guide includes tips and thinking prompts to help you make a quality submission. It looks long (don’t be daunted by its length) as it is meant to guide you.
It is not a template for submissions – you should create your own submission. You will probably understand, if mass-produced responses are provided, these will be disregarded as part of the Inquiry.
Here is an example for Question 1 from the guide a) the efficacy of community engagement and benefit in planning, developing and operating the offshore wind industry:
These are Important points to consider:
Every submission should be about your personal experience, what you felt about the process and how it has impacted you.
Real life stories are as important if not more so than environmental, economic, technical, & research etc. (that can get covered
in point (e)).
The most important aspect to get across at the inquiry is how you felt after the consultation process.
- Did you get clarity on what was being proposed?
- Do you feel that the process of consultation allowed you to be able to make an informed decision?
- Did you leave the consultation process armed with knowledge?
- Did you leave the consultation process with information you could share or rely on?
- If you attended a consultation session and asked questions and took notes use these to help you complete this point.
Other Resources
Word Version of Front Page of Submission – your can use this Word document for the beginning of your submission, which includes the initial basic information to be included.
South Pacific Offshore Wind EPBC Submission – For the Illawarra proposal, South Pacific Offshore Wind (Bluefloat) made a submission and then withdrew this during the consultation process. You can access the Bluefloat submission via this link (it was removed from their website after they withdrew the proposal). It includes information such as the endangered species and background to what they proposed. For many in the community who had been following this issue, this was the first time detailed information had been provided about the proposal.
More background information on the senate inquiry can be found here.