Policy Opportunities and Barriers

Powering First Nations Jobs in Clean Energy

This report identifies pathways and options for First Nations to be supported to enter the workforce in the clean energy sector and be able to access the quality job opportunities and career...

Reviewing the Federal Government’s Capacity Investment Scheme - Market Brief Generation Tender 1 - Briefing Note (May 2024)

The Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) is a key policy mechanism being deployed by the federal government to encourage new investment in wind, solar and battery storage through a competitive tender process every six months. ...

Australian Capital Territory Policy Overview: First Peoples and Clean Energy

Elders, councils, and elected bodies represent the rights and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT. The ACT sources its electricity from renewable generators, such as solar and...

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 also high quality and nationally competitive wind resources that are largely untapped, particularly for oﬀshore wind. There is clearly much interest and potential for...

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...

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...

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.

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...