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Policy Opportunities and Barriers

This page reviews policy in states and territories, and Australia-wide, that impact First Nations participation in the clean energy boom.

The papers are written either by members of the First Nations Clean Energy Network, and/or our research partners and others.

Tasmania Policy Overview: First Nations and Clean Energy

Tasmania is one of the few regions globally to have achieved 100% renewable energy generation in November 2020, primarily due to the high contribution of hydropower. There are social licence challenges based primarily...

Western Australia Policy Overview: First Nations and Clean Energy

Western Australia has very strong solar resources and nationally competitive wind resources that are largely untapped. There is clearly much potential for the development of clean energy projects on land where First Nations...

First Nations and the Clean Energy Transition: Emerging Issues in New Transmission Infrastructure

A review of Federal and State government approaches to transmission reveals inconsistency and a lack of accountability for ensuring commitments to First Nations outcomes. Despite all government’s stated ambition for First Nations participation...

NSW Policy Overview: First Nations and Clean Energy

The energy transformation in New South Wales has included a range of initiatives for First Nations people. At present, Aboriginal Working Groups in the Renewable Energy Zones are undertaking the responsibility of negotiating...

Optimising positive impacts for First Nations through reliable and cost competitive renewable energy projects

The combination of First Nations partnership, governance and equity is unequivocally the factor that unlocks positive impacts for First Nations communities and projects. That's the conclusion of a new briefing paper by...

Embedding First Nations outcomes into the government's auction process

Australia can’t let this opportunity be missed. The Federal Government must use the revised Capacity Investment Scheme announcement to design a system that embeds First Nations outcomes into its auction process, bringing everyone...

Victoria Policy Overview: First Peoples and Clean Energy

Due to its reliance on emissions-intensive brown coal, Victoria is currently seeking to engineer a transition from one of the dirtiest power systems in the world to 95% renewable energy by 2035. The...

South Australia Policy Overview: First Nations and Clean Energy

South Australia is a global leader in renewable energy. Driven by high quality wind resources and rooftop solar in a smaller electricity market, renewable energy supplies around 70% of SA's electricity consumption. SA has one...

Queensland Policy Overview: First Nations and Clean Energy

Queensland has very strong solar resources, and also high quality and nationally competitive wind resources and there is clearly much potential for the development of clean energy projects on First Nations-titled lands. ...

Summary of key legislation applying to offshore renewable development areas

This paper summarises the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 and other key legislation relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights and interests in ‘sea country’ - that is, in offshore...

Overview of Notable Federal Government Policy Initiatives

The Australian Government’s energy policy comprises a large number of energy strategies and frameworks, policies and programs. These are broadly designed to underpin the supply of energy (reliable, secure and affordable), whilst also...

Connected: rooftop solar, prepay and reducing energy insecurity in remote Australia

Australia is a world leader in per-capita deployment of rooftop solar PV with more than three million households realising benefits including reduced energy bills and improved energy security. However, these benefits are...

Eight simple steps to build First Nations engagement in Australia’s clean energy transformation

After two years of listening, the First Nations Clean Energy Network offers eight actions that will support Australian governments partner with First Nations in this fast and furious clean energy transition. 

Disconnected during disruption: Energy insecurity of Indigenous Australian prepay customers during the COVID-19 pandemic

In Australia, early pandemic safeguards against electricity disconnection were successful in temporarily protecting most people. However, their application was uneven. For remote-living Indigenous community residents, who are required by policy or elect...

Northern Territory Policy Overview: First Nations and Clean Energy

This paper was prepared to support conversations at the Mparntwe (Alice Springs) roundtable for the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy. The Northern Territory has some of the strongest solar radiation in the world...

First Nations can help Australia respond to United States’ Inflation Reduction Act

Against a backdrop of rising costs of clean energy projects, inflation, and the knock-on effects of rising energy bills, Australian governments have their work cut out. The investment and policy environment they...

First Nations, risks and opportunities, and Australia’s energy transition

Enabling and empowering First Nations to play a key and central role in Australia’s renewable energy transition goes beyond just social licence issues. With new regulatory and policy systems being designed by...

Advancing Aboriginal Interests in the New South Wales Renewable Energy Transition

As the NSW Government steers the transition of the economy to renewable energy there is a unique opportunity for Aboriginal communities and their economic and land interests and aspirations to be advanced. The...

Renewable hydrogen: Will First Nations people benefit?

First Nations peoples' land is essential to making renewable hydrogen. In this paper, published by Australian Environment Review, researchers from the ANU and Original Power discuss a few ways to ensure First Nations people...

Energy insecurity during temperature extremes in remote Australia

Indigenous communities in remote Australia face dangerous temperature extremes. These extremes are associated with increased risk of mortality and ill health. For many households, temperature extremes increase both their reliance on those...