Published at Renew Economy.
Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey kicked off a twitter storm this morning when he stated in an 2GB radio interview he finds wind turbines “utterly offensive” and “a blight on the landscape.”
Joe Hockey’s statement was broadcast to a wider audience by Canberra-based ABC political reporter, Andrew Green, whose tweet generated dozens of responses from the public:
The Treasurer @JoeHockey tells @2GB873 the wind turbines he sees around Lake George on his drives to Canberra are “utterly offensive”
— Andrew Greene (@AndrewBGreene) May 1, 2014
@AndrewBGreene @senatormilne @JoeHockey @2GB873 Been to the Hunter Valley lately, Mr Hockey? http://t.co/EmfRnBKbld
— Fran Molloy (@franmolloy) May 1, 2014
@AndrewBGreene: @JoeHockey needs to visit Morwell and the Latrobe Valley to get some perspective on energy generators. @2GB873
— Leigh Ewbank (@TheRealEwbank) May 1, 2014
@AndrewBGreene @senatormilne @JoeHockey @2GB873 As opposed to billowing poison from coal power.
— Madam Sircumstantial (@NannaHannah) May 1, 2014
.@2GB873: Treasurer @JoeHockey needs a briefing on wind energy. Here’s one we prepared earlier for the PM. #Auspol pic.twitter.com/v6TUtlvIZa
— Yes 2 Renewables (@Yes2Renewables) May 1, 2014
@Richlest @AndrewBGreene @JoeHockey @2GB873 Offensive as this? pic.twitter.com/voegfq4UPn
— Bernie (@BernieFlan2293) May 1, 2014
.@JoeHockey: Do the farmers making drought-proof income hosting wind turbines offend you? @2GB873 @AndrewBGreene #Auspol #SeriousQuestion
— Leigh Ewbank (@TheRealEwbank) May 1, 2014
@Richlest @AndrewBGreene @JoeHockey @2GB873 or this? pic.twitter.com/yYpcrzVthc
— Bernie (@BernieFlan2293) May 1, 2014
@AndrewBGreene @JoeHockey @2GB873 Wind turbines offensive? Oil refineries, coal power stations, csg polluted rivers are far more offensive.
— Carly Anne (@ms_lollyhollic) May 1, 2014
@AndrewBGreene @JoeHockey @2GB873 as opposed to the Hazelwood open cut coal mine, which is a delight to the eyes? pic.twitter.com/zMsnXkV3OV
— Cam_Walker (@Cam_Walker) May 1, 2014
@JoeHockey @2GB873 Lake George wind turbines “utterly offensive”? #gigha people love their ‘dancing ladies’ #renewables @AndrewBGreene
— Gillian King (@GillKing01) May 2, 2014
Hockey’s criticism of wind energy comes amid a government-initiated review of the Renewable Energy Target – Australia’s principle renewable energy policy.
The Renewable Energy Target review is off to a bad start.
Public confidence in the process was lost with the selection of climate change skeptic and former Caltex chairman, Dick Warburton, to head the review.
Mr Warburton’s refusal to join Yes 2 Renewables’ fact-finding mission has solidified this view. After all, how can the review panel make an informed decision about the Renewable Energy Target if they won’t visit communities to understand how they’re affected by energy policy?
If the Warburton review joined us they’d know that for Morwell the Renewable Energy Target offers hope of a clean energy future—one free from worrying about how coal ash and carcinogenic particulate matter will affect their health. And in Portland, they’d discover how the RET has created hundred of jobs and prosperous and resilient economy.
The public is not alone questioning the legitimacy of the Warburton review. Renewable energy industry players say the modelling assumptions are “farcical,” arguing they are set up for a predetermined outcome for weakening the scheme.
“This is an absolute stitch-up,” John Grimes, chief executive of the Australian Solar Council, told The Guardian. “They are predetermining the outcome of this modelling by the assumptions they are making … it is an unprecedented scam in policy-making and it needs to be called for what it is.”
The Warburton review presents a risk for the government. And undisciplined comments on wind energy from Treasurer Hockey don’t help.
Why?… Because wind energy and the Renewable Energy Target enjoy strong public support – even among Coalition voters. With release of its first budget around the corner and a tough program of austerity measures to sell to the public, attacking popular policies is the last thing the government needs.
TAKE ACTION:
- If you support more renewable energy for Australia, sign our petition calling on PM Tony Abbott to protect the RET.
- Support the Protect the RET petition in your community. A printable verion is available here so you can get family, friends, colleagues and community members to sign on.
- Volunteer with Yes 2 Renewables and support our RET Review Road Trip. Contact us here to express interest.
yes2renewables.org 
I find Joe Pinball utterly offensive. Can we bring in planning codes to outlaw blowhard morons becoming public officers?
Yes, what he must like is the fine particle pollution in his lungs from burning fossil fuels and the extreme weather that Greenhouses gases are causing
Reblogged this on The Kettle Press and commented:
Joe Hockey finds wind farms offensive, apparently. Wonder what he thinks of the millions upon millions of power poles, the tens of millions of kilometres of wires, and the billowing and filthy power stations such as Hazelwood.
Now Cardinal Pell’s in the Vatican, they must have a hell of a bulk purchase discount deal for Indulgences, to cover such a shut pot of lies. So up ’emselves you’d almost think they’re bringing back the Inquisition, disregard any facts, just believe, or else….
It would seem that Joe Hockey is going to do to renewables what his beloved church has been doing to innocent children.
At your normal standard Blair I think you should withdraw your comment.So no one can have an opinion on how they see wind turbines apart from the people that like them I can think of many words for that Hitler would be proud of you and your views Blair.
Congratulations Chris, you managed to invoke Godwin’s law in your very first post all by yourself! It’s noticeable how adept you are at kicking own goals while studiously ignoring the subject.
Evidently you think Mr Hockey epitomises objectivity, honesty and compassion?
This is weird. We are being primed to do the “Heavy Lifting” to take us out of economic malaise. But this sounds more like “Heavy Tossing”. Even more so when talking of long term strategies and budgets that supposedly provide for the future.
OK being very generous, Hockey has doubtless being working long hours and is likely very fatigued. But his negative comments still savagely undermine the remaining credibility of Greg Hunt and any noble aspirations he holds fr the environment.
It is increasingly clear that this government, and other State governments are just as flawed as the previous administrations.
They have lost me. I don’t know who else to vote for right now, But I won’t vote for a party so far from my wants and needs. That will be my direct action.
Your last two paragraphs perfectly sum up the situation. I just hope the generations who follow us recognised that many of us did the best we could under the circumstances.
It’s not just the great big Windmills that are offensive and a blight on the landsape of Australia, its the cost to us the Taxpayers for the great big subsidies that are paid to the Wind Generators that install these monstrous usless that are next to useless except to make people sick who live near them.
Go Hockey grt rid of these things and the Departments that are responsible for allowing these things to pollute the Australian landscape
Government subsidies to the fossil fuel industry in Australia annually amount to about $12 billion (ref Colebatch et al – Fairfax).
The international Energy Agency noted last year that worldwide, subsidies to renewables amounted to around $89 billion and subsidies to fossil fuel industries was around $253 billion.
And your evidence for these subsidies? We have the RET only. Subsidies are the province of fossil fuel fired generators but you don’t want to know that – obviously.
The end is near Blair so we wont need to talk once the whole wind gag is in the hole where it belongs. Dont know what you will do for thrills then.Try train spotting I think you would be very good at it only electric trains though Blair not fossil powered ones.Do you own an electric car Blair or is it a case of do as I say not do as I do like most of your type all lip service.
You keep believing your denialist religion Chris. Change is consistent, new and better ways of doing things will continue even if you deny their existence. Wind energy continues to grow around the world, it’s only temporarily stymied here. Gloat while you can.
Mr Hockey is perfectly entitled to dislike the look of turbines in particular and their visual impact in general. It is a matter of personal taste – ‘de gustibus non est disputandum’.
However, having set himself up as a leader in the nation, he is not entitled to ignore the looming threat of climate change. Right now it looks as though he and the government might stand accused of dereliction of duty.
Thanks for that YES he should be able to have an opinion.And if the govt is accused of anything I would shudder to think what the greens will be charged with.
Well said John Morgan. I would think a leader of our country would keep his ill informed opinions to himself but at least it shows how utterly weak and truly ignorant he is. Keep it up Joe, every time you open your anti climate change, anti science believer, anti wind farm and anti renewables mouth you lose more supporters. We care about our world and believe in our scientists and support the brave people trying to make a difference.