At the 2026 National Bush Summit in Dubbo, Robyn Hicks described her farm hemmed in by a five-metre-high solar project built by foreign workers who spent little locally, prompting Albanese to say ‘I get it’ amid audience laughter and boos.
He called for better community consultation to earn ‘social licence’ and raised concerns about over-regulation, but the crowd remained frustrated over renewable projects industrialising farmland with few local benefits.
Attendees also highlighted rising costs like 33% higher electricity and 24% rent increases since 2022, while Albanese stressed engaging local leaders to address ground-level issues.
