Michael McCormack says he is serving the interests of his electorate. Photo: Chris Roe.
Member for Riverina Michael McCormack insists he is advocating for the people of his electorate amid backlash over his anti-renewables stance.
During a speech to Federal Parliament on Monday (28 July), Mr McCormack called out former Teal independent MP and journalist Zoe Daniel over an opinion piece she wrote for The Guardian criticising his stance on renewable energy.
Ms Daniel wrote in her piece that Mr McCormack and Member for New England Barnaby Joyce have “ditched trying to reach the 43 per cent net zero 2030 emissions target, by trying to repeal the current national net zero target, which is undermining the current leader, David Littleproud, in the process”.
Ms Daniel said Nationals MPs’ calls for repeal were “irresponsible and gutless”.
Mr McCormack used his time in parliament on Monday to address Ms Daniel’s article, stating he is sticking up for the people who sent him to Canberra.
“Today, I’ve been accused of being ‘irresponsible’ and ‘gutless’ by Zoe Daniel. She’s accused me of that because I stick up for the people who send me here, to Canberra, to represent them,” he said.
“I’m not going to listen to the likes of Zoe Daniel. I’m going to listen to the likes of Tracey O’Reilly from Gregadoo, Kerry Langfield from Mangoplah and Leanne Dunn from Talbingo.
“They are worried about battery energy storage systems, which are cropping up in their neighbourhood.
“I’m going to listen to the likes of Jasmin Jones, the Yass Valley mayor, who was out the front of Parliament House this morning and who said: ‘Don’t decimate it on this insane quest of virtue signalling when we’re doing all the heavy lifting in the regions for our metro mates.'”
The Riverina has been the focus for several renewable energy projects in recent months, including the approval of a wind farm at Burkes Creek and a battery storage facility near Governors Hill in Wagga.
Many farmers have expressed their concerns about the damage wind farms could cause to prime agricultural land in the Riverina.
Karen Masson, a beef farmer from The Rock, who lives near the Burke Creek windfarm site, said no one in the vicinity of the development was consulted before the initiative was approved and that it was not uncommon for other places within the Riverina.
“Our community is gutted,” she told Region in early July.
“None of us have been notified personally despite being registered objectors. There are huge contamination, fire and stormwater risks and concerns and devaluation of surrounding properties.”
The decision was also condemned by the NSW Farmers Federation in Wagga.
Mr McCormack said he was standing up for families and farmers who objected to the developments and he would continue to do so.
“Enough is enough for our regions. They’re the sort of people I’ll be sticking up for,” he said.
