This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/18/canberra-windfarm-protesters-renewable-energy
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Canberra windfarm protesters demand end to 'renewable energy scam' | Canberra windfarm protesters demand end to 'renewable energy scam' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Three Coalition politicians and one candidate attended the “wind power fraud rally” in front of parliament house on Tuesday where around 150 protesters called for the abolition of the renewable energy target and a ban on all new windfarms. | Three Coalition politicians and one candidate attended the “wind power fraud rally” in front of parliament house on Tuesday where around 150 protesters called for the abolition of the renewable energy target and a ban on all new windfarms. |
| Signs at the rally urged: “Stop the wind power fraud,” and referred to a “renewable energy scam”, insisting that “wind farms wreck health and jobs”, but the signs contained none of the vitriol or “ditch the witch”-type slogans that marked anti-carbon tax rallies in recent years. | Signs at the rally urged: “Stop the wind power fraud,” and referred to a “renewable energy scam”, insisting that “wind farms wreck health and jobs”, but the signs contained none of the vitriol or “ditch the witch”-type slogans that marked anti-carbon tax rallies in recent years. |
| Radio presenter Alan Jones addressed the rally and began by reminding those present that “the purpose is to be peaceful and make sure the argument wins the day”. | Radio presenter Alan Jones addressed the rally and began by reminding those present that “the purpose is to be peaceful and make sure the argument wins the day”. |
| “Be careful with your placards and make sure they are all in good taste,” he warned the crowd, acknowledging the smaller than expected turnout by saying: “There aren’t a lot of people here. They don’t have time or the resources.” | “Be careful with your placards and make sure they are all in good taste,” he warned the crowd, acknowledging the smaller than expected turnout by saying: “There aren’t a lot of people here. They don’t have time or the resources.” |
| The rally attendees largely heeded his advice, although a few protesters were wearing T-shirts with a picture of a man’s bottom on, saying: “Stick your turbines where they fit, not near our homes.” | The rally attendees largely heeded his advice, although a few protesters were wearing T-shirts with a picture of a man’s bottom on, saying: “Stick your turbines where they fit, not near our homes.” |
| Protesters at the rally asserted that windfarms were “fraudulent” because, they claimed, two of them in Victoria, including the Waubra windfarm, were not compliant with their permit conditions. | Protesters at the rally asserted that windfarms were “fraudulent” because, they claimed, two of them in Victoria, including the Waubra windfarm, were not compliant with their permit conditions. |
| But Liberal senator Chris Back acknowledged he had been alerted by wind company Acciona to a letter sent to politicians from the Victorian department of planning and community development stating that “the minister for planning has not determined whether the windfarm is or is not compliant with the relevant planning permit”. It said: “The minister or the department have never stated that the Waubra Wind Farm is not compliant with the planning permit. It cannot be assumed or inferred from the departmental advice that Waubra Wind Farm is not compliant with the relevant planning permit and I seek your co-operation in correcting the public record.” | But Liberal senator Chris Back acknowledged he had been alerted by wind company Acciona to a letter sent to politicians from the Victorian department of planning and community development stating that “the minister for planning has not determined whether the windfarm is or is not compliant with the relevant planning permit”. It said: “The minister or the department have never stated that the Waubra Wind Farm is not compliant with the planning permit. It cannot be assumed or inferred from the departmental advice that Waubra Wind Farm is not compliant with the relevant planning permit and I seek your co-operation in correcting the public record.” |
| Back insisted that the state planning minister, Matthew Guy, had told parliament differently and said he would get to the bottom of the discrepancy. | Back insisted that the state planning minister, Matthew Guy, had told parliament differently and said he would get to the bottom of the discrepancy. |