Waubra Foundation

The Waubra Foundation is an astroturf group^[1] which describes itself as an advocate for properly conducted, multidisciplinary research into health problems reported by people living in the vicinity of wind turbines and other industrial uses.^[2] The foundation is named after the town of Waubra, Victoria Australia, but is not linked to it in any other way. The town is home to the 128 turbine Waubra Wind Farm.^[3]

The foundation is a front for many anti-renewable energy or pro-fossil fuel organisations, such as the Institute of Public Affairs and the Australian Landscape Guardians, and is run by Peter Mitchell, who runs a fossil fuel investment company.^[1]

History

The Foundation was originally known as the 'Waubra Disease Foundation' established by Mr Peter Mitchell in March 2010,^[4] following claims that health problems reported by some residents of Waubra were caused by wind turbines.^[5] Peter Mitchell has uranium and coal seam gas interests and a history in the fossil fuel extraction industry.^[6][7]

Operations

Use of the Waubra township name

The foundation was named after the so-called "Waubra disease" reported by some residents of the town.^[8] Other than its name, the Waubra Foundation has no links to the township of Waubra, Victoria Australia. In November 2013, 315 people, including 179 people within the town community, petitioned the Waubra Foundation to remove the name Waubra from its title, with petitioners claiming that the name had "tarnished the town's reputation" and that its name was "misleading" and did not reflect local attitudes to the installation.^[9][10] A 2013 report prepared by an independent consulting firm estimated that the Waubra Wind Farm would ultimately contribute $346 million to the economy of the Central Highlands region.^[10] The foundation declined to change its name.^[11]

Organisational Structure

The independence and impartiality of the Waubra Foundation has been criticised from a number of quarters. Business Spectator referred to the organisation's office-holders as having "a background of involvement with anti-wind farm campaigns" and suggested that this "shows the Waubra Foundation is not an impartial authority on matters of human health" and "undermines the Foundation's claim to be independent and trustworthy on wind energy and health."^[12] In separate articles, Crikey and The Guardian referred to the Waubra Foundation's founder, Peter Mitchell, as having uranium and coal seam gas interests and as having a background in the fossil fuel extraction industry.^[13][14] Mitchell's family owns 'Mawallock', a historic rural property located near a wind farm which he has objected to (Stockyard Hill).^[15][16] Mitchell is also a founding chairman of the Moonie Oil Company and now chairman of Lowell Pty Ltd, which runs an investment fund focused on oil, gas and minerals.^[17] The foundation once shared a post office box with Lowell Resources and the Australian Landscape Guardians.^[18]

Sickness Claims

The Waubra Foundation proposes that wind turbines have a mental and physical health impact on some people, largely as a result of infrasound, and has claimed that wind turbines can cause 'lip vibrations' out to ten kilometres away^[19]

In 2009 the term Wind Turbine Syndrome was coined to encompass the broad range of symptoms described by complainants living near turbines. The Foundation has published reports from sufferers of wind turbine syndrome symptoms living as far away as 17 kilometres from the nearest turbine.^[20]

Qualifications

In April 2013 the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) ethics committee began investigating a complaint that the CEO of the Waubra Foundation, Sarah Laurie, had breached ethical research codes.^[21] The complaint alleges that Laurie is not currently registered as a medical practitioner but has been conducting activity that meets the definition of medical research including; collecting blood pressure data, giving medical advice, referring to people as “research subjects” and accessing and discussing medical records and personal health journals.^[21] In May 2013 the NHMRC stated that it would take no further action in relation to the complaint as neither Dr Laurie, nor the Waubra Foundation, has contractual arrangements through a signed NHMRC Funding Agreement.^[22] Laurie has acknowledged that she has no training or experience in conducting medical or scientific research or experience in research methodology and design, (other than some undergraduate exposure when obtaining her medical degree) and acknowledges that she is not a qualified acoustician, and has no experience or training in acoustics generally.^[19]

Deductible gift recipient status

In November 2013, Senator Richard Di Natale, health spokesperson for the Australian Greens, and former General Practitioner, lodged a written complaint with both the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commissioner and the Australian Tax Office regarding the Waubra Foundation qualifying as a health promotion charity, on the basis that the foundation’s claims are false and misleading and that they may actually be causing harm.^[23][24]

On December 11, 2014 the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) revoked the foundation’s registration as a health promotion charity.^[25] David Locke, the Assistant Commissioner of the ACNC concluded,"It is not possible for me to find that the Foundation's principal activity promotes the prevention or control of disease in human beings,".^[26]

References