Ensuring Indigenous Australians are central in the nation's energy transition is the focus of a First Nations Clean Energy Symposium that aims to shake off a history of economic development "being done to us, not with us".
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Karrina Nolan, co-chair of the First Nations Clean Energy Network, says there is strong potential to build on 15 established First Nations clean energy project partnerships.
She is among the 40-odd speakers at a First Nations Clean Energy Symposium in Adelaide on Wednesday and Thursday.
The event will focus on ensuring First Nations communities are central in Australia's energy transition and highlight the need for swift action.
"I think this is a really amazing story of community coming together and working with government and industry going, 'let's actually get on and do this'," Ms Nolan said.
"There's a history of mining and other economic development being done to us, not with us."
She said there would be some "amazing thinkers" in the room.
"It's inspirational, particularly in a year that's post-Voice referendum. I do think there's a lot of hope."
The event brings together hundreds of First Nations leaders and community members, representatives of government, industry and unions, and academics and experts.
First Nations communities have been shut out of the solar boom and are still faced with unreliable and expensive power - and the impacts are worsening as extreme temperatures increase because of climate change.
Ms Nolan says the ideas and visions being assembled at the symposium can help lead to a seismic shift.
"Let's do economic development in a way that is going to be different and shape what happens for our communities for a long, long while to come," she said.
The symposium would not be like some other gatherings "where people come and talk with people and leave", she added.
"People will get up from their table, share their yarn and their lesson, and then we sit back down and workshop it."
Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen is expected to deliver a video message centred around the government's First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, due mid-year, and the upcoming Budget allocation to First Nations clean energy.
Australian Associated Press
