Independent Federal Member for Indi Dr Helen Haines and Community Strong Federal Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender will move a motion in Parliament on Monday calling for a national framework to ensure regional communities get a fair share of the economic benefits of the renewable energy transition.
As conversations are heating up about Australia’s energy transition and increasing interest in AI data centre development, the two crossbenchers said Australia must rethink the deal with regional communities hosting nationally significant infrastructure.
“Regional communities are playing an important role in Australia’s energy transition, and many are embracing the opportunities it brings,” Dr Haines said.
“But communities want to know that when they host infrastructure, they will have a genuine say in how it fits into their community and share in the benefits it creates.”
The motion calls on the Government to establish a permanent, nationally consistent framework that requires minimum community benefit contributions be paid from renewable energy proponents to communities hosting their infrastructure.
The framework would require community benefit funds to deliver intergenerational benefits to communities, while also supporting local governments manage their growing responsibilities in facilitating the energy transition.
This will give communities greater clarity about what to expect when dealing with proponents while providing proponents with more certainty and consistency about what they need to bring to the table.
“The energy transition will bring enormous benefits to all Australians, whether they live in the cities or regional towns, on the coast or in the bush,” said Ms Spender. “But it’s clear that much of the vital infrastructure will be built in regional Australia.
“If we want to build the energy generation infrastructure that all Australians need, then those regional communities need to see a tangible economic return from hosting it.
“National minimum community benefit standards help deliver a faster and fairer transition and developers I speak to welcome clear expectations and value community partnership.”
Dr Haines said there was an opportunity to learn from the proponents already doing this well and establish a stronger national standard.
“The transition will not succeed if regional Australia feels it’s something being done to communities rather than something being built with them.
“There are renewable energy proponents doing excellent work with communities, and we should learn from those examples.
“The goal isn’t to make it harder to build renewable energy. It’s to make sure we build it well, in partnership with the people who call these places home.”
The motion also notes the growing national conversation about community benefits from major infrastructure, including AI data centres.
Dr Haines said regional communities had been having this conversation about community benefit from hosting new energy generation infrastructure for years.
“Regional communities have been asking for a fair share of the benefits of the energy transition for years.
Dr Haines and Ms Spender said the proposal was ultimately about ensuring the benefits of the energy transition were shared, strengthening host communities.
“Regional Australia has powered Australia’s prosperity for generations. It is now being asked to host the infrastructure that will power our future.
“We want to ensure that future leaves more behind for the communities doing the heavy lifting.”
ENDS