Backlash over PM's 'ugly' Rotto turbine claim
When Prime Minister Tony Abbott singled out the Rottnest wind turbine last week he raised a few eyebrows in WA.
“I cycled around the island and my path took me almost directly under the big wind turbine,” Abbott said.
“Now, up close, they are ugly, they are noisy and they may have all sorts of other impacts.”
The West’s economics editor Shane Wright pointed out the turbine provides 30 per cent of the island’s power, saving $350,000 a year on diesel fuel and reduces greenhouse gases by about 1100 tonnes a year.
Not only that, the Rottnest Island Authority said there were no records of complaints about its noise or appearance.
Some IC readers took exception to the PM’s comments, including Liberal voter Gail Jenkins, who holidays on Rotto every year.
“I think Abbott is a man of strong principles which he holds in the face of strong populist opposition,” she said.
“This I admire. However he is wrong about an increasing number of things and the Rotto wind turbine is a case in point.
“On this topic Abbott speaks irrational rubbish. Contrary to his opinion, I think a second turbine should be built next to the existing one.”
Mrs Jenkins wanted us to ask readers if they’d like to see Rotto double its renewable energy capacity. What do you say?
In a related story, @RottoTurbine, a parody Twitter account purporting to be the turbine has amassed more than 500 followers since Friday.
