Former Greens leader Bob Brown’s opposition to wind farms described as ‘height of hypocrisy’

Former Greens leader Bob Brown has been described as a hypocrite for opposing wind farms.

The environmental campaigner was instrumental eight years ago in creating the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which saw taxpayers hand out more than $10billion for green power projects.

Despite using his political muscle in 2011 to force a minority Labor government to subsidise major renewable energy projects, Dr Brown is now campaigning against wind farms.

The 74-year-old retired senator is opposed to renewable energy company UPC’s $1.6billion plan to build a wind farm on Robbins Island, on the north-western corner of Tasmania, which would have the potential to power 600,000 homes.

The Hammond family, who have owned the small Bass Strait island for more than 100 years, are in favour of 163 turbines, standing 270 metres above ground, being installed on their land.

Dr Brown, however, is now campaigning against wind energy because he doesn’t like big corporations.

‘What’s happened with renewable energy, it’s now become an avenue for big business to be pursuing profits because it is such a profitable business these days,’ he told the ABC’s 7.30 program on Thursday night.

‘But we mustn’t put the profits ahead of the planet.’

Tasmanian Liberal Energy Minister Guy Barnett described Dr Brown’s newfound opposition to wind farms as hypocritical.

The 74-year-old retired senator is opposed to renewable energy company UPC’s $1.6billion plan to build a wind farm on Robbins Island, on the north-western corner of Tasmania, which would have the potential to power 600,000 homes

‘The Greens, for years, have been calling for renewable energy,’ he said.

‘They’ve been saying no to coal, “We need more renewable energy” and then when a major renewable energy is put on the table, to progress, Bob Brown and the Greens are opposing it. It’s the height of hypocrisy.’

Dr Brown also cited the potential for the spinning blades to kill endangered birds.

The former medical doctor argued his stance against wind farms was not hypocritical, arguing the Franklin Dam, which he protested against in 1983, was a renewable energy project. 

‘People can only say it’s hypocritical if they haven’t studied my form,’ Dr Brown said.

‘I cut my teeth, with so many others, on opposing the Franklin Dam. That was a renewable energy source.’

Dr Brown is now campaigning against wind energy because he doesn’t like big corporations (pictured is a stock image of wind farms)