John Howard's Ag. Minister Delivers Screeching Attack On Wind Farms

[hatrack]

A HOWARD Government minister has launched an extraordinary attack on the wind energy sector, denouncing wind farms as a "complete fraud" that "only exist on taxpayer subsidies". The Australian Wind Energy Association last night called for urgent talks with Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran after he said wind farms were an excuse by "some entrepreneurs to make money at the expense of taxpayers and landholders".

Association national president Andrew Richards said he was disappointed by the federal minister's comments and would seek a meeting with him. "We hope that he has been ill-informed on the facts," he said. Mr McGauran, who made the comments to Victorian dairy farmers on Tuesday, said yesterday he stood by the attack. He said he made his comments, reported in the Warrnambool Standard newspaper, in his capacity as the Nationals MP for Gippsland.

His attack stands in contrast to the support for wind farms by cabinet ministers, including the federal Environment Minister, Ian Campbell. While Senator Campbell vetoed a Victorian wind farm because of a perceived threat to the orange-bellied parrot, the minister has been a vocal supporter of the spread of wind energy projects.

Senator Campbell, who was unavailable for comment last night, last week attacked the Labor states for not supporting a national wind energy code and reiterated that 600 wind farms had been built or were under construction since the Howard Government came to office.
Mr McGauran's stand also contrasted with the Liberal MP for Wannon and federal Speaker David Hawker, who hosted the minister's visit to the region.

EDIT

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19623668-30417,00.html

Good thing that industrial agriculture & agribusiness don't get any subsidies, isn't it?

[eviltwin2525]

1. dumber than W?

Geez, Australia....who'd have thought there could be a government dumber than our own American BushCheney despotism? I'm afraid Oz gets the award for dumbest gov actually elected by the people. Wow.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Next time this guy gives a speech, the audience should hold up pinwheels..

so all that wind energy is used for *something*.

[Ready4Change]

4. Now THAT would be a beautiful thing.

I'd like to think, were I in his position, that I'd crack up and applaud the audience.

:applause:

[JohnWxy]

3. Chrikey, I wonder what the wind potential of Australia is. It must be

HUGE! (all that flat open country).