Albanese government's 'First Nations Clean Energy Strategy' slammed for prioritising symbolism over substance

Sky News AU

4 days ago

The Albanese government's First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, unveiled as part of its broader plan to overhaul Australia's energy landscape, has drawn the ire of a leading energy analyst who claims the initiative is heavy on symbolism but light on practical impact.
Former Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Michael Newman argues in a damning report that the strategy represents a wider trend in government energy policy that prioritises appearances over affordability and reliability.
He warns that this 'multi-objective' approach dilutes focus on grid reliability and affordability, and risks leaving Indigenous communities worse off.
'Electricity supply policy needs to be stripped of its multiple, and often incompatible, objectives. The focus must be on delivering reliable, affordable energy - not cultural outcomes,' he states.
The First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, released earlier this year, outlines a vision for Indigenous participation and co-ownership in Australia's energy transition.
But Newman suggests the policy lacks engineering credibility and over-relies on social justice framing, with the report even echoing frustrations heard during community consultations.
'We have more sun than you can poke a stick at, and our trees grow sideways because we have more wind than you can imagine - but our energy is still not reliable,' one participant said.
Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Dan Tehan also dismissed the government's strategy, claiming Labor have no plan to put the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy into action.
'Where is Labor's strategy to deliver cheap, reliable energy for all Australians? The only strategy they had, they walked away from at the last election,' Tehan told Sky News.com.au.
"There is no mention in this document of 'cheaper energy' or Labor's promise to lower energy bills by $275, which has still not been delivered.
'There is no mention of the cost to taxpayers of Labor's ideologically driven renewables only energy policy and how much taxes will have to increase to pay for it. It once again shows Chris Bowen is not up to the job.'
Newman's critique also draws on examples from the Northern Territory, where poorly coordinated solar investments led to instability, system collapse, and rising household costs following the shutdown of gas generation.
'Despite repeated warnings from Electrical Trades Union engineers about the risks of closing the gas-fired Ron Goodin Power Station, the system collapsed,' Newman writes.
'Thanks to poor grid configuration, consumers also suffer frequent disconnections. And as the cost of electricity rises, $20 power cards run out sooner.'
Newman also raises concerns about the emergence of what he calls an 'identity-based industry', arguing that 'dubious claims to Indigenous ancestry' are being used to access clean energy grants, subsidies, and regulatory fast-tracking.
'By embedding reconciliation rhetoric into technical infrastructure planning, we risk weakening both the energy system and the integrity of Indigenous self-determination,' he warns.
Former National President of the Labor Party Warren Mundine weighed in on the Strategy, believing that the action plan has merit but needs to be put into action quickly with a little less pandering to communities, and more focus on "all Australians."
'It seems that it's not being done quick enough. It's great to use lovely language and try and include everyone by stroking their egos, but that's not really going to work if you don't have a concrete plan on what you're going to do,' Mundine told Sky News.com.au.
'This is not about helping all the different communities in Australia that they list by pandering to them, it's about helping everyone. For these types of strategies, there needs to be more action and not appealing to the masses.'
Mundine outlined his way of speeding up the process with regard to the Clean Energy Strategy that will help all Australians.
'Obviously, the place you start is in the regional areas with the gas projects. Get those projects up and running quickly. That creates economic prosperity to the communities in the region, and in turn it supplies gas and creates economic growth in those areas,' he said.
'It's the same regarding residential solar energy which would help get people off diesel, and another would be lifting the ban on uranium mines.
"They are three basic ideas that I have come with on the spot, and they could be done quickly, so, if the government want any other help regarding this strategy, they can give me a call.'
However, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen defended the strategy as essential to building a fairer and more inclusive clean energy economy.
'To me, the energy transformation is one of our best, if not the best, opportunity to ensure that First Nations people benefit from and have some ownership of the wealth we will create as we re-engineer our energy system,' Bowen said during his address to Australian Energy Week in June.
He acknowledged the strategy is still in the early stages, with most funding not yet flowing.
'The Strategy is important, but I don't pretend that it has as yet even started to work. Funding for much of the strategy begins on 1 July.
'Funding is just the start. We will need to work together across our sector to make the strategy a reality.'
He positioned the policy as part of a broader national effort to deliver a modern, lower-emissions energy system.
Still, critics argue that unless the government shifts its focus toward engineering feasibility and measurable delivery outcomes, policies like the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy may struggle to overcome growing scepticism.