SENATE
Hansard
TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2015
Senator MADIGAN: Firstly, I seek leave to table a document, and it was disclosed to all the whips earlier
today.
Leave granted.
Tonight I speak about corruption and fraud in the power generation industry.
The Senate Wind Turbine Inquiry’s final report made 15 important recommendations. Today, I rise to speak
in support the Labor senators’ Dissenting report’s fifth recommendation:
that state and territory government consider reforming the current system whereby windfarm developers
directly retain acoustic consultants to provide advice on post-construction compliance.
Avoiding noise from wind turbines is an expensive bother that does not hold any appeal to windfarm
operators. Slowing down turbines increases costs and slows down profits.
So I was not surprised to learn that in the seven years of its controversial operation, the adjustments
necessary to ensure Cape Bridgewater Windfarm operated in compliance with its planning permit have
never been applied.
Mr President, wind farm operators have found a far less expensive and simple process to game the system.
They employ compliant “experts.”
In 2006, Marshall Day Acoustics with consultant Christophe Delaire prepared a pre-construction Noise
Impact Assessment for the Cape Bridgewater Windfarm.