CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr LITTLEPROUD (Maranoa) (09:40): I want to bring to the parliament's attention a matter I raised previously, the Wambo Wind Farm and the human toll that it's taking on the Duffs and the Franzes—the Franzes in particular. They are 80-year-old retirees who have farmed, and want to continue to farm, next to their son. They have multiple 260-metre towers less than 1½ kilometres away, and they hover over their homes.

This is something that is an absolute eyesore, and it's a disgrace that the former Labor government in Queensland allowed the planning process to proceed. Since then, I've written to the Queensland government asking them to review the code. They have made small steps in reviewing and ensuring that there are better planning processes to protect non-host farms and give them the dignity and respect they deserve.

I've also written to the federal government to ensure that there's consideration given to any federal funding supporting renewable projects that don't take into account nonhosts or ensure proper planning—and 1½ kilometres from a house is not enough. If you go to the Franz home, you only have to sit at the front verandah to see that these 80-year-old retirees are sitting there with these things swishing over their heads.

In their retirement, they cannot live on a property they have worked hard to afford to be able to live near their son. After writing to the Queensland government—and I congratulate them on some changes—I am appalled that they are not prepared to heed what has happened to the Franzes. I would say to the Queensland government to go out; do not rely on the department that has allowed this planning monstrosity to take place to continue to advise you.

Get in the car. It's less than three hours from Brisbane. Go and sit in the Duff and Franz front yards, look at this and understand the impact on nonhosts.

We are not saying, 'Stop renewable energy on these farms,' for those who want to do it. But, for those that do not want to, they should not have this imposed on them. There should also be proper testing of the acoustics.

The Franzes are putting up with over 37 decibels, the modelling is showing, and it could be as high as 44 decibels. The code 23 this was approved under says the towers can only go to 35 decibels, yet they are still looking to investigate this. You do not need to model this.

You need to go and fix this for the Franzes. You need to actually make sure that we change the code, to set these towers back three kilometres from the boundaries of properties. This allows the nonhosts to negotiate and come closer—up to 1½ kilometres—if they so wish.

That gives the power to the nonhost, not the renewable companies. These renewable companies need to put deposits down. They are not bound by decommissioning deposits.

If you have a gas project or a coalmine, you must put a bond down to decommission it. This would take away the uncertainty and the pain that regional Australia is feeling—people like the Franzes and Duffs have worked hard all their lives and are being screwed over by state and federal governments.