Greens Leader Waters Avoids a Firm Position on Robbins Island
Greens leader Larissa Waters has avoided a firm stance on the Robbins Island wind farm, a high-profile project in Tasmania that has drawn opposition from two Greens colleagues and criticism from environmental groups. With debates intensifying about the pace and location of renewable energy, Waters said she hasn’t formed a definitive view and emphasized the need to balance large-scale wind with biodiversity protections.
Speaking to the ABC’s Insiders, Waters admitted she is not yet familiar enough with the project to declare a position. She added that renewables development should not unduly threaten biodiversity and that the Greens must consider siting in the broader context of the region’s ecological needs. “I don’t know very much about that … we will be looking at that closely,” she said. “I accept it has to be in the right place and if this one isn’t, let’s look at somewhere else to put it… We are going to need to balance the need for large-scale and small-scale renewable energy against the needs of biodiversity and I don’t think it’s beyond our ability.”
The Robbins Island proposal would be Tasmania’s largest wind project to date, featuring roughly 100 turbines. While supporters argue the project could advance a cleaner energy future, its critics warn about impacts on endangered species and fragile habitats on Robbins Island and nearby reserves.
Opposition Within the Greens
The position within the Greens is not monolithic. Two Tasmanian Greens senators, Nick McKim and Peter Whish-Wilson, have publicly opposed the wind farm, saying it threatens endangered species and could undermine public confidence in renewable energy rollout. In a joint statement, they condemned the conditional approval granted by Environment Minister Murray Watt in August, which included 88 conditions intended to safeguard species such as the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot, the Tasmanian devil, and the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle.
“The approval of this obviously inappropriate project will only serve to undermine community confidence in our already flailing rollout of renewable energy,” Whish-Wilson said. McKim echoed concerns that the project is in the wrong place, arguing a broader and more careful approach to renewables is needed.
Even longtime Greens figures have weighed in. Veteran Tasmanian former Greens leader Bob Brown has campaigned against the farm through his foundation, arguing the project’s location carries unacceptable ecological risks.
Greens’ Vision for Reform and Reform Goals
Waters linked the Robbins Island debate to a broader push for environmental reforms that could accelerate the renewables transition without compromising biodiversity. She argued for “no-go zones” within environmental laws—areas where project applications would be automatically excluded—and for reforms that require an explicit consideration of climate change impacts when approving major infrastructure. The aim is to harmonize environmental safeguards with the urgent need to scale up renewable energy projects.
“Efforts to reform environmental laws should balance the concerns of environmental groups and businesses who say major projects take too long to obtain a ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” Waters said. The Greens want a legal framework that forces the environment minister to weigh climate impacts as an integral part of project assessment and approvals.
Future Paths for Renewables and Biodiversity
Waters did not endorse the Climate Change Authority’s advice to quadruple wind power by 2035, which aligns with an emissions reduction goal of 62 to 70 percent below 2005 levels. She voiced openness to quadrupling renewables, but she signaled skepticism about pinning the date to a single technology’s supremacy. “I support quadrupling renewable energy. I have an open mind as to what particular technology will be the most efficient,” she said, while criticizing Labor’s current climate target as inadequate.
As the Robbins Island debate unfolds, the Greens’ approach will likely hinge on a careful examination of wildlife protections, habitat preservation, and the value of clean energy for Australia’s climate goals. The question remains: can large-scale wind projects coil into a broader, biodiversity-first framework that satisfies both conservationists and reform-minded climate advocates?
