The release of the interim report into the Impact of Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) on rural and regional communities has once again exposed the city-centric agenda of both Labor and the Liberals.
Committee Chair, Mark Banasiak, said the evidence presented to the inquiry was clear: regional NSW is being railroaded by a reckless rollout of renewable energy projects with little to no regard for local communities.
Mr Banasiak called for an immediate moratorium on all pending project approvals until a detailed cumulative impact assessment could be completed.
Instead, the Government and Liberal members combined to strong-arm the vote and strike the recommendation from the report.
“These members sat through the same hearings, heard the same evidence, and still chose to play politics with the livelihoods of regional families. Regional NSW is not a dumping ground for Sydney’s energy needs,” Mr Banasiak said.
The inquiry has heard overwhelming concerns from councils, farmers, businesses, and residents about water security, workforce pressures, planning chaos, and the collapse of social cohesion under the weight of speculative developments.
Yet the Government and Liberal Party have ignored those voices in favour of developer interests.
“Labor and the Liberals have once again proven that when it comes to the bush, they close ranks.
Regional communities deserve answers, not backroom deals,” Mr Banasiak said.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party will continue to fight for independent, robust assessment of these projects and for the voices of regional people to be heard before further approvals are forced through.
Media Release: Shooters Fishers and Farmers MLC Mark Banasiak
