The Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications is undertaking an inquiry into the offshore wind industry consultation process.

Climate change poses a significant threat to biodiversity, and the Biodiversity Council supports a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

There are opportunities to improve outcomes for biodiversity and reduce conflicts between renewable energy project proposals and stakeholders through adherence to the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent from Traditional Custodians, and better strategic planning to protect marine biodiversity and culturally significant species.

We recommend that the Australian Government:

1. Along with industry, should follow the First Nations Clean Energy Network best practice principles for clean energy projects when developing offshore wind projects.
2. Should take meaningful steps to implement UNDRIP and embed its principles within legal frameworks.
3. Should undertake comprehensive marine spatial planning to better understand significant locations for marine biodiversity where offshore wind infrastructure would be inappropriate.
4. Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to afford protection and sustainable management of culturally significant species.
5. Embark on extensive Before and After, Control and Impact, experimental evaluation of the consequences of offshore wind.

Please see the submission for full details.