Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis, I refer to the Prime Minister's statement on the Alan Jones show that the government has reduced the future number of wind farms: 'I would, frankly, have liked to have reduced the number a lot more.' Is a further reduction of renewable energy generated from wind farms government policy or just another captain's call?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, I actually did not hear the Prime Minister's interview with Alan Jones.

Senator Gallagher interjecting—

I actually did not hear it, Senator Gallagher. Can I tell you, though, that the government support renewable energy as part of our energy mix. We want to see the renewable energy target, which was introduced by the Howard government, by the way, succeed. Legislation has passed the House to progress our bipartisan agreement—with the opposition, by the way, Senator—to reform the target, avoiding wasted investment in electricity generation, reducing the risk of unnecessary price rises for consumers and allowing small-scale generation such as household solar to continue to grow uncapped, and exempting energy-intensive trade-exposed sectors such as aluminium. These measures are good for Australian jobs.

The Commonwealth government does not approve new wind farm projects—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order on direct relevance. I was listening carefully to the minister to see whether he was going to move onto the issue of wind farms in government policy at all, as that was the specific question. Could we have the minister directed towards the question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Moore. I remind the minister he has half the time left to answer the question.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I had actually just started to address the issue of wind farms when you took your point of order, Senator. As I was saying, the Commonwealth government does not approve wind farm projects because that is a matter for state governments. But the government does take community concerns seriously and is committed to looking at whether wind farm noise impacts human health. To that effect, the National Health and Medical Research Council has released an information paper entitled 'Evidence on wind farms and human health'.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It said there was no evidence, no evidence at all!

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It did not!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Back and Senator Carr!

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Urquhart, given the limited reliable evidence available, the NHMRC considers that further high-quality research is warranted and is planning a targeted call for research into wind farms and human health. The Department of Industry and Science will be reviewing the NHMRC's work to consider how noise from wind farms may affect human health so that any approach to measuring noise can be targeted appropriately.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I also refer to the Prime Minister's statement on the Alan Jones show that he understands the concerns about the potential health impact of wind farms. Does the Prime Minister have any evidence to support his concerns regarding the health impact of wind farms?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Urquhart, the Prime Minister is concerned and the NHMRC are sufficiently concerned that they are examining the matter. Senator Urquhart, I am not a scientist, but, like the Prime Minister, I have heard community concerns voiced. I have heard them voiced in this chamber. I have heard them voiced in particular by my friend Senator Chris Back, from Western Australia, who gave a most instructive speech about this topic in this chamber some months ago. I have discussed the matter with Senator Back and I understand that there are reasons for concern.

As to the strength of the evidence—as to the strength of the empirical basis of those concerns—I am not in a position to inform you, but I think, Senator, you should not close your mind to the concerns that people in the community have and that the Prime Minister, quite appropriately, articulated.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Has the Prime Minister agreed to the establishment of a wind farm commissioner and another committee to investigate claims about the health impacts of wind farms?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not aware that the Prime Minister has announced the establishment of an office of wind farm commissioner.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to table a copy of a letter from Minister Hunt addressed to senators.

Leave not granted.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On both sides! I did not hear the minister then, but I assume, Minister, you have asked for further questions to be placed on notice.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, you could not have heard me for all the yelling from the opposition, but I did ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.