Labor and Liberal energy ministers refuse to commit to renewable energy State Planning Policy after Nationals

The State’s major parties have knocked back the Shire of Narrogin’s call to embrace a similar policy commitment to the Nationals’ comprehensive State Planning Policy for renewable energy projects. Following on from concerns about community consultation expressed by the shires of Narrogin, West Arthur and Wagin in November 2024, the Nationals WA announced their State Planning Policy for renewable energy projects on January 13. A week later, on January 20, the Shire of Narrogin called on Labor and the Liberals to follow suit, but the two major parties have declined to do so. Shadow minister for energy Steve Thomas said he welcomed the Nationals’ declaration and that his party would work with them to deliver their desired renewable energy planning outcomes, but that he expects more than one policy will be needed. “The problem with promising a comprehensive State Planning Policy for renewable energy projects though is that the projects vary so greatly that a single planning policy will struggle to address either the needs of industry or the concerns of local communities,” he said. “Many of the concerns of local communities and their local governments go beyond planning into issues around community support, environmental concerns and landscape amenity.” The politician said matters to be considered include the number of projects compared to land space, the diversity between each renewable project and where the new policies will fit into the existing State Planning Policy 2.5 Rural Planning. Mr Thomas said the Liberal Party has committed to extend coal generators while still needed and build additional gas generation capacity to “keep the lights on” at an affordable rate but believes there is “more work to be done” in terms of future planning. Minister for Energy Reece Whitby said the Nationals “are obsessed with spreading conspiracy theories about windfarms and have no energy policy whatsoever”. “The two parties can’t agree on energy policy in Opposition and would present a huge risk if elected — not just to our State’s energy transition, but to the ongoing supply of clean, affordable and reliable power in regional WA,” he said. Mr Whitby also said that while he appreciated the interest in a renewable energy framework, the current focus is on developers embracing the opportunity with landholders free to negotiate terms that benefit them and in turn their community.