COMMITTEES

Senator KOVACIC (New South Wales) (15:43): At the request of Senator Cadell, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 31 March 2027: The impacts of large-scale renewable energy generation, storage and transmission infrastructure on agricultural landholders and rural, regional and First Nations communities, with particular reference to: (a) the direct and cumulative impacts on: (i) productive agricultural land and farming operations, (ii) neighbouring landholders and residents who do not host infrastructure, and (iii) property values, amenity, community cohesion, local services and regional infrastructure; (b) the adequacy of consultation and social licence arrangements, including: (i) how community support is identified and demonstrated, (ii) the distinction between agreements with participating landholders and support from neighbouring landholders and the broader community, and (iii) the consequences where genuine social licence has not been demonstrated; (c) the distribution of costs and benefits, including compensation for affected non-host landholders, local and First Nations employment and procurement, workforce accommodation and enduring investment in regional communities; (d) the adequacy and enforceability of planning, approval, complaint handling and dispute resolution arrangements, including implementation of the recommendations of the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner's Community Engagement Review; (e) options for national minimum standards, cumulative regional impact assessments, independent assistance for affected communities and conditions on Commonwealth funding and support; and (f) any other related matters.