David Norris (Independent)

I will only take a minute. She has my permission if she wishes to take my time.

I congratulate Senator Kelly, a new Senator, on his excellent Bill. I am not sure if he had the assistance of the drafting service but I want to take the opportunity to welcome the fact that for the first time we now have the assistance of a drafting service in this House. It is a very important service of which I am availing currently.

I am all in favour of wind turbines and we are moving to 16% of our energy needs being created by them. It is a new and welcome phenomenon, as is wave power.

I am not sure if it has been mentioned by previous speakers but I was greatly moved recently by the story of a woman with an autistic child whose neighbour erected a wind turbine right beside their boundary. This neighbour had a field an acre away which could have been used as an alternative location. The noise from the turbine activated the most severe problems for her autistic child. As I said this morning, there is under the Constitution the right to the proper enjoyment of one's home. I accept wind turbines are very beneficial and it is great to generate electricity in these difficult times, saving money for oneself while feeding surpluses to the grid along with getting back some payment. That is wonderful, but could we please have respect for neighbours? That is the only thing I wish to say. If Senator Higgins wishes to take the time that is left, that is fine. If she wants to take her own time, that is equally fine. I have made the point I wanted to make.