A storm of controversy is swirling over offshore wind in the Western Australian town of Bunbury.

As the world attempts to transitions to renewable energy, grassroots groups are voicing their opposition to wind developments.

In South West WA, community group Save Our Beloved Geographe Bay has formed to oppose the federal government's proposed Bunbury offshore wind zone.

But are there nefarious forces at play?

How legitimate are environmental concerns about wind turbines?

Where's the money coming from to support local anti-wind groups like Save Our Beloved Geographe Bay?

Why do anti-wind activists hate environmental groups like Greenpeace so much?

And how does anti-wind sentiment fit into the murky worldviews of anti-vax, sovereign citizen, freedom-loving conspiracy theorists?

In this episode, you'll hear interviews with:

• Bunbury resident Rodney Peterson
• Curtin University marine scientist Professor Christine Erbe
• Save Our Beloved Geographe Bay campaign co-coordinator Martine Shepherd
• Busselton resident Darren Glover
• Independent MLC Sophia Moermond

Since this episode was recorded, a coalition of environmental orgs, including WWF and Greenpeace, released a statement on renewables and nature:

"Of course, every renewable energy project must be assessed for its environmental impact, which will mean avoiding some locations.

"Stronger and clearer laws would guide all projects, give the community and industry certainty, set limits of acceptability, be designed to protect species and prevent extinction and in doing so create momentum for the necessary big renewables build. Moreover, any development in the oceans must consider the impacts on marine life and follow strict regulatory controls."

Read more about opposition to offshore wind in the South West from The Last Place on Earth: 'The anger is blowin' in the wind'.

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Links:

'Reviewing the ecological impacts of offshore wind farms' - Scientific paper

Greenpeace statement on proposed Bunbury offshore wind zone

'Against the Wind: A Map of the Anti-Offshore Wind Network in the Eastern United States' - report by Brown University Climate and Development Lab

'The network of conservative think-tanks out to kill the switch to renewables' - Renew Economy

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein

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Both state and federal governments have handed down budgets in the past fortnight that include big surpluses and electricity credits for all.

Is federal Labor taking its cues from WA, and how will that work out for them? And what does WA really have to show for all those iron ore royalties?

In this episode, hear Shire of Ashburton President Audra Smith talk about her Pilbara community's disappointment with the state budget. They've been waiting for a new hospital at Tom Price since it was promised back in 2021, and the budget papers suggests they'll be waiting a while longer.

This episode was recorded on Wednesday 15 May.

Read more on the WA state budget from The Last Place on Earth:

• 'Forgotten' Pilbara town waits for promised hospital as another budget passes by
• Someone, please invade Perth
• WA banks another $3.2 billion in surplus - but would it be better off spent?

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Pro-Palestinian protests around the world are escalating, and Western Australia is no exception.

From Columbia to Curtin University, students are pitching tents to demand their administrations cut ties with Israel.

Meanwhile, hundreds continue to join picket lines at Fremantle Port in an attempt to disrupt Israeli shipping line ZIM.

Are these tactics working? And when it comes to global issues like Palestine, can what happens in a place like Perth really make a difference?

In this episode, you'll hear from Western Australian organisers and protesters on why they're willing to get disruptive for Palestine.

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Support independent media in Western Australia by becoming a paid subscriber.

For more on recent pro-Palestine protests, see our news coverage:

• Pro-Palestinian activists arrested at Fremantle Port picket
• Curtin students set up encampment to demand uni divest from Israel

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