Thursday, 13 November, 2014

LABOR WILL SAVE WIND INDUSTRY AND CREATE LOCAL JOBS

DANIEL ANDREWS | LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
After four years of Napthine Government red tape and restrictions, Labor will get our wind energy industry back
up and running, employing thousands of Victorians and creating energy for Victorian homes.
Labor will wind back the restrictive planning controls the Liberals implemented in 2011, which have stopped
dozens of wind farm projects, cost thousands of jobs and driven investment interstate.
An Andrews Labor Government will reduce the exclusion zone around dwellings from two to one kilometre. The
current buffer zone has stymied wind farms projects across the state. Only two wind farms have been approved
since 2010.
Labors plan will protect state and national parks and other environmentally and culturally sensitive areas across
Victoria. The Minister for Planning will be the responsible authority, and local councils will play an important role.
Labor will also create the $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund which will offer grants of up to $1 million to firms and
companies specialising in high-growth renewable sectors like new energy technology.
The funding will encourage investment in the renewables sector and will be focused on the development of
technology associated with the generation and storage of clean energy. Examples would include new blade
technology and advanced solar energy capture and storage.
Quotes attributable to Mr Andrews
Victoria can lead the world in wind energy. We have the manufacturing expertise but we need a Labor
Government.
Denis Napthines disastrous anti-jobs agenda has driven wind energy into the ground and driven investment out
of our state.
Labor will get our wind energy industry back up and running creating thousands of jobs, powering our homes
and improving our environment.
Key Facts

A 2012 SKM study found that one 25-turbine wind farm alone would directly employ up to 48
construction workers and five ongoing staff.
Importantly, each worker will spend about $25,000 in the local area in shops, restaurants, hotels and
other services. This leads to indirect employment during the construction phase of approximately 160
people locally, 504 state jobs and 795 nationwide jobs.

Media Contacts:
Chris Reilly 0409 707 985 | chris.reilly@vic.alp.org.au
Chris Owner 0458 397 708 | chris.owner@vic.alp.org.au