NFF Urges Ministers: Overhaul Energy Project Engagement Now Critical Habitat Mapping: Progress Made, Time for Protection

The National Farmers’ Federation is urging Australia’s energy ministers to address widespread discontent in farming communities regarding energy companies’ failures in community engagement.

NFF President David Jochinke emphasized the urgent need for action ahead of the upcoming Energy and Climate Ministerial Council meeting. He highlighted that the issue of inadequate community engagement is longstanding, with almost a month passing since the release of a report by Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer outlining proposals for improvement.

Jochinke expressed concern that while energy projects are progressing rapidly, the pace of leadership response is sluggish. He emphasized that these projects have immediate impacts on farmers and rural communities, infuencing critical decisions about their future.

The NFF is calling for substantive change from the Ministerial Council to ensure that energy project developers collaborate with communities rather than steamrolling ahead without regard for local concerns.

Jochinke emphasized the importance of taxpayer funds, such as those allocated for projects like Rewiring the Nation, being contingent on achieving social license outcomes. He cited fndings from the Dyer Review indicating a staggering 92% dissatisfaction rate among surveyed individuals regarding the level of engagement from project developers.

The NFF insists that energy companies lack a social license and demands comprehensive action to rectify the situation. They propose the implementation of enforceable obligations, in the form of a code, governing engagement, compensation, land access arrangements, and minimizing the impact on land use. These obligations, they argue, should be legally mandated and possess punitive measures for breaches.

Furthermore, the NFF advocates for signifcant planning reform, including the requirement for energy infrastructure planners to identify sensible routes for transmission lines, rather than resorting to the expedient but disruptive option of cutting through farmland.

Jochinke reiterated the NFF’s commitment to fnding a balance between meeting energy needs and preserving food and fbre production. The organization stands prepared to explore alternative solutions that do not compromise agricultural productivity.

The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the leading environmental advocacy organization in the state, has welcomed the release of the latest phase of the Native Vegetation Regulatory map. This updated map now pinpoints ‘vulnerable’ and ‘sensitive’ ecosystems across key regions including the North Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central West, and Central Tablelands. While the government has pledged enhanced protection for these identifed areas, it’s noteworthy that the development of this map has spanned seven years without a concrete timeline for implementation. NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford commended Minister Sharpe for advancing the release of this crucial data, acknowledging delays experienced under the previous administration. However, she emphasizes the imperative of an actionable plan to enforce the protection of these ecosystems.

Mumford underscores that while these maps are signifcant in identifying critical ecosystems on private land, halting the decline of biodiversity in the state requires more than just mapping. She urges Minister Moriarty to uphold Labor’s electoral commitment by ensuring adequate protection for these areas and providing landholders with necessary support, incentives, and opportunities to contribute to nature conservation efforts.

Mumford expresses grave concern over land clearing emerging as the primary threat to biodiversity in NSW, highlighting the troubling reality that landholders can clear critical ecosystems without even consulting Local Land Services. While recognizing the importance of incorporating landholder knowledge into the conservation process, she insists that consultation cannot be exploited to further delay the protection of these vital habitats or justify their premature destruction.

The urgency is palpable as Mumford urges Minister Moriarty to break her silence and outline plans for fulflling Labor’s commitment to curbing rampant land clearing. She demands an end to landholder selfassessment practices and the closure of loopholes in ‘allowable activities’ introduced by the previous government, which have led to a staggering tripling of land clearing across NSW.

Additionally, Mumford calls attention to the government’s pledge to collaborate with landholders in developing strategies for habitat protection, highlighting Minister Moriarty’s silence on this crucial matter.

She emphasizes the thousands of landholders in NSW committed to preserving vital habitats, underscoring the critical role the map plays as a tool for them. However, the lack of support for private land stewardship poses a signifcant challenge, pitting responsible landholders against proft-driven agribusinesses more focused on short-term gains than long-term land stewardship.

Ultimately, Mumford emphasizes that the unchecked destruction of endangered ecological communities across the state cannot continue. She views the ongoing whole-ofGovernment response to Ken Henry’s review of NSW biodiversity laws as a pivotal opportunity for Labor to rectify inherited shortcomings and elevate the standards of habitat protection and stewardship across the state.