REWIRING Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement to boost the development of renewable energy projects by proposing new guidelines for research and demonstration licenses. 

Energy Minister Chris Bowen today unveiled the plans to offer the updated licenses, which would encourage researchers, scientists and others to research new wind technology to ensure Australia is at the cutting edge of the sector. 

The licenses would be offered in all six declared offshore wind zones, including the Hunter region in New South Wales.

Rewiring Australia’s founder and chief scientist, Saul Griffith has spent years across Australia and the USA developing and engineering innovative renewable energy technologies, including floating offshore wind.

“The development and testing of this kind of technology is critical if we are going to get the most out of it in Australia. We need to encourage investment and innovation and this is one important way to do that,” Dr Griffith said. 

The Federal Government today said the projects might include monitoring technology to examine the feasibility of offshore wind for a region, or projects designed to demonstrate the viability of new technologies. 

Importantly, it is expected to slash the cost of the initial R&D license, making early-stage projects for proving deep-water technologies more financially viable and de-risking larger-scale investment.

“Australia is in a unique position; we not only have abundant sun to support solar, but with the sixth longest coastline in the world and 85% of our population within 50km of that coast, we’re well placed to scale up our offshore wind capabilities.

“A diverse mix of renewable energy will make Australia less reliant on imported fuels and expensive and aging fossil fuel plants," he said.

“We have the ability to become a renewable energy superpower in Australia, and supporting our innovators is one of the best ways to do that. Harnessing the strong winds out to sea will help deliver clean energy around the clock, and help us close down our expensive, ageing coal power stations on time, which is good for the energy bills of all Australian households,” Dr Griffith said. 

The Federal Government today said it was seeking feedback on the proposed new guidelines from today until October 3. 

“I commend the Federal Government for opening up the gates to crucial investments in offshore wind technologies with this license proposal. With the right framework to get this industry established, Australia can be a leader in this global energy opportunity,” Dr Griffith said. 

www.rewiringaustralia.org

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has commenced an inquiry into the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The treaty, signed in Geelong on July 26, 2025, forms a key component of the AUKUS partnership and outlines collaborative efforts to support Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines.

The committee has invited interested individuals and organisations to make submissions addressing the treaty and its implications. Submissions are due by Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and can be lodged online via the Committee website.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP said, "This inquiry is a vital opportunity for the public to engage with one of the most significant defence and strategic agreements in Australia’s recent history. We encourage stakeholders to share their views."

Detailed guidance on preparing and submitting submissions is available on the Committee’s website.

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THE National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) have warned of serious risks to freedom of expression stemming from a code of conduct adopted by the Bendigo Writers Festival.

The festival issued a code of conduct to participants in La Trobe University-sponsored events directing them to “avoid language or topics that could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful”.

It also mandated adherence to La Trobe’s Anti-Racism Plan, which adopts the Universities Australia definition of antisemitism. 

More than 50 writers, academics and hosts including NTEU and MEAA members withdrew from the festival over the code. 

“It’s especially galling that La Trobe University management has used its role as a sponsor of the festival to stifle academic freedom and freedom of expression – the very principles universities are built on," NTEU national president Alison Barnes said.

“This is exactly why the NTEU strongly argued against Universities Australia’s definition of antisemitism – it risks conflating uncomfortable criticism of government policies with discrimination.

“The NTEU will always unequivocally oppose all forms of racism and discrimination including antisemitism and Islamophobia," Dr Barnes said.

MEAA acting chief executive Adam Portelli said, “MEAA supports creative and media workers' right to freedom of expression, even when uncomfortable or inconvenient. In fact, it is in the very nature of artistic expression to be disruptive.

“These workers deserve the freedom to express opinions without fear of being silenced or censored," he said.

“This can be done while ensuring an environment free from discrimination and vilification.”

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“It’s not a choice between the economy and nature; you can have both or you can have neither,” ACF CEO Kelly O’Shanassy, who will attend the roundtable session on Better regulation and approvals said.

“The Great Barrier Reef, which supports 64,000 jobs and injects around $6.4 billion a year into the economy, is in serious strife because of repeated coral bleaching from hotter oceans.

“The Murray-Darling Basin, which supports more than 30% of Australia’s food production, is in a dire state, with some ecologists describing the ecosystem as on the brink of collapse," O’Shanassy said.

“Faster decisions are crucial, as is stronger nature protection. Australia’s failed national nature law facilitates neither. 

“The national nature law contains a series of convoluted processes with no defined outcomes or transparent institutions – a recipe for slow, unpredictable decisions and ecological and economic decline. 

“Three elements of environmental law reform are essential to faster decisions and stronger nature protection. 

“National environment standards are needed to define the rules on nature protection and guide project proponents on where they can build and where nature needs to be protected because of high conservation value habitat," Ms O’Shanassy said.

“An independent national EPA is needed to administer the standards through making assessment and approval decisions, ensure compliance and enforcement and oversee any accredited arrangements that allow for further efficiencies.

“Better coordination across federal, state and territory governments is needed, but the simplistic idea of handing over Commonwealth responsibilities to State and Territory governments for ‘single touch approvals’ won’t work," she said.

“Research by ACF shows roughly half Australia’s GDP (49% or $896 billion) has a moderate to very high direct dependence on nature. Speeding up decisions without boosting nature protection will simply accelerate extinction and put the brakes on our economy and jobs.”

www.acf.org.au

Read ACF’s submission to the Economic Reform Roundtable.

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