Joe Hockey blows up again over ‘appalling’ windfarms

Joe Hockey has repeated his criticism of the aesthetics of windfarms, saying he finds them “quite appalling” and that they detract from the beauty of Australia’s landscapes.

Speaking at a Bloomberg summit in Sydney on Tuesday, the federal treasurer replied in the affirmative when asked if he would repeat comments made to radio host Alan Jones that he finds the wind turbines around Lake George “utterly offensive”.

According to Renew Economy, the treasurer told the Sydney summit: “Renewable energy is hugely important, it’s a part of the fabric of development of a diverse energy supply right around the world.

“We have some beautiful landscapes in Australia, and frankly, putting up those towers is just to me, quite appalling in those places.

“I drive from Sydney to Canberra … to go to parliament, and I just look at those wind turbines around Lake George and I am just appalled.”

Hockey added: “And for all the greenies in the audience, if they put a huge coal-fired power station up as well, I would be equally appalled.”

In May, Hockey told Jones that wind turbines were a “blight on the landscape”. The Bungendore farmer who hosts the turbines that Hockey dislikes so much responded to the treasurer’s comments by challenging him to fight his prized Angus bull George. The 800kg hoofed animal is named after the nearby Lake George.

Hockey and his cabinet colleagues are currently considering a review that recommends radically winding back the renewable energy target. Meanwhile, the government wants to scrap the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

The Coalition has also committed to a review of the health impacts of wind turbines. The National Health and Medical Research Council and Australian Medical Association both recently stated that there was no evidence wind power generation itself causes any of the litany of illnesses and problems it has been linked with.

Andrew Bray, spokesman for the Australian Wind Alliance, told Guardian Australia that he was disappointed by Hockey’s latest criticism of the wind sector.

“I’m surprised that he’s prepared to repeat those comments,” Bray said. “He seems to think his own sense of aesthetics are more important than forming a coherent national energy policy. It’s hard to see how he is approaching the discussion around the renewable energy target in a constructive way when he says things like this.”

He added: “Clearly Mr Hockey has no idea what it means to live in regional Australia. Joe Hockey should get out more and learn about how important this industry is for country people who are are doing it tough.

“National energy policy shouldn’t be dictated by what Joe Hockey wants to see on his drive to Canberra.”

Labor’s environment spokesman, Mark Butler, said Hockey was making an “utterly ridiculous contribution” to the renewable energy debate.

“The treasurer’s comments are the latest evidence the Abbott government is looking to destroy the renewable energy target,” Butler said.

“Tony Abbott is still sitting on the Warburton review which recommends scrapping or significantly winding back the RET, despite the report showing that the RET will drive down electricity prices in the long term.

“Joe Hockey is effectively asking people to pay higher power prices because he doesn’t like the look of wind turbines.”