Submission to Senate Inquiry into Offshore Wind Industry Consultation Process – August 2024

The submission analyzes the three-stage offshore wind regulatory process (declared areas, licence granting, and management plans) and critiques the Draft Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Amendment Regulations 2024. Key recommendations include directing proponents to consult with relevant Traditional Owner Representative Institutions (TORIs), requiring proponent-funded engagement resources, mandating agreements or demonstrable accommodation of Traditional Owner concerns, and ensuring Traditional Owner communities receive economic and social benefits from offshore wind activities to prevent repeating historical patterns of dispossession in the transition to renewable energy.

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