Conversation with the ACT Government, Australia
On October 2, 2010, the Waubra Foundation wrote to the ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher and Minister for the Environment/Attorney General Simon Corbell, to warn the ACT Government to protect itself and its ratepayers by inserting clauses in contracts with wind developers to purchase wind energy. The Foundation was specifically concerned about industrial wind facilities where such facilities were breaching the human rights of nearby communities, through chronic sleep deprivation.
The Government was warned that prolonged sleep deprivation is explicitly acknowledged as a method of torture by the UN Committee Against Torture. The Foundation cautioned against subjecting ACT ratepayers and responsible public officials to future litigation from those afflicted by predictable adverse health impacts including the known consequences of prolonged and chronic sleep deprivation from industrial wind facilities.
Read the Foundation’s letter of 2 October, 2014 to Minster Corbell and Chief Minister Gallagher
On November 10, 2014 Minister Simon Corbell responded to the Foundation stating “The ACT Government does not support your position about the health impacts of wind farms, or that they promote and exacerbate tensions in rural communities. Nor do I share your expressed concern regarding the potential legal exposure of the ACT Government.”
December 1, 2014 – The Foundation responds to Minister Corbell’s letter of November 10, and again warns the ACT Government to protect taxpayers, Government and officials from future litigation and to encourage industrial wind development operators to operate in a way which is consistent with human rights.
Read the Foundation’s letter of December 1, 2014