King Island anti-wind campaign funded by ‘Rich List’ absentee landowners: report

The campaign to stop the development of a $2 billion wind farm on Tasmania’s King Island has been funded by two non-residential multi-millionaires, according to a report published in Crikey today.

The No TasWind Farm Group has led a highly organised and well-funded campaign to stop development of Hydro Tasmania’s 200 turbine project, which would be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere.

As we wrote back in June 2013, their efforts to block the King Island TasWind project have included importing noted anti-wind activists – including Waubra Foundation CEO Sarah Laurie – hiring a pricey Sydney PR firm, and taking to social media (the King Island Facebook page is said to be administered by the anti-wind side).

In September last year, they resorted to legal action, seeking an injunction on any works connected with the proposed wind farm, including Hydro Tasmania’s planned feasibility study, which the island’s residents voted in favour of (59%).

COUNCIL HILL (SOUTH)Now, Crikey has revealed that, according to the minutes of last month’s No TasWind Farm Group annual general meeting, its major donors were BRW rich listers Bill James and Michael Crouch.

According to BRW, Bill James is one of three founders of travel giant Flight Centre and is worth $855 million. His family is believed to own land on King Island, but according to locals he does not live there.

Michael Crouch, the other major donor, is worth $310 million after founding Zip Industries, says Crikey. He owns Waverley Station, a cattle farm on King Island, but also does not live there.

In financial documents also seen by Crikey, No TasWind is shown to run almost completely from donations, with $95,770 donated in the last financial year. The group had $61,590 in legal fees and recorded a profit of $36,326 for the year.

Comments

6 responses to “King Island anti-wind campaign funded by ‘Rich List’ absentee landowners: report”

  1. Pied Avatar
    Pied

    So? In this country you are allowed to do this, rich or poor. Good on them if they want to spend their money, in a democracy you can.

    1. Tommyk82 . Avatar
      Tommyk82 .

      In the same way that restrictions are now placed on tobacco advertisers, the time will (hopefully) come when deliberately disseminating lies about climate science or wind turbines effects on health invites certain consequences. The ignorant and vulnerable individuals that fall victim to this breed of toxicity become terrified and vote against something which is good for them. Don’t confuse democracy with purchased power and influence, it is the very opposite of democracy.

      1. Pied Avatar
        Pied

        Wow, someone who is smarter, wealthier and more organised than you is somehow akin to bug tobacco? So when someone promotes something you disagree with lets penalise them, hang them from the nearest tree!!! Sounds like all the other left wing and Communists to me, there only good argument is to disparage their opponent and threaten punishment rather than present ideas. Well buddy if you had two bucks to rub together you too could achieve something. My take on these guys are they are your typical NYMBY’s, they own a beautiful part of Australia and don’t want is disfigured by a bunch of wind turbines. They have a right to protest this, regardless of your mindless rant. Good on them in fact I am going to send them a donation now to help in their campaign!
        PS
        Are you on some government benefit?

        1. Tommyk82 . Avatar
          Tommyk82 .

          I don’t mind you finding wind turbines unattractive, there’s no point arguing about taste, but the Waubra Foundation don’t protest the appearance of wind turbines, they deceive people into thinking they are medically harmful. That’s the relationship to tobacco, in the same way those companies are now forced to be honest that their products ARE harmful to health, organisations should not be allowed to falsely present wind turbines as medically dangerous. I’m actually surprised wind turbine manufacturers aren’t suing groups like the Waubra Foundation for baselessly attacking their products and in the process affecting their sales.

          Sorry, I’m not going to bother addressing your attacks on my character, or take seriously the notion that you have any intention of actually donating to their smear campaign.

  2. Pedro Avatar
    Pedro

    The question is what’s in for them and why would they care if they don’t live there?

  3. Jeffrey Wood Avatar
    Jeffrey Wood

    People who believe Democracy is the freedom to spend money missed the lecture on political theory.

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