Specifically, Mr Pratzky is targeting disinformation that he believes threatens the progress of renewable energy development, including a potential offshore wind industry in the Hunter region.

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Mr Pratzky has a long history of researching Australian energy projects and their environmental impacts.

In 2007, after a workplace accident, Mr Pratzky made the move to a small property in Chinchilla, Queensland.

Just six months later, he became aware his property was under threat from the expansion of coal seam gas projects in the region.

“A guy drove down my driveway and said ‘Mate, we are going to drill some wells into your property, there’s nothing you can do about it’,” Mr Pratzky told NOTA.

“He shoved a contract in my face and said ‘Sign this’.

“That started a bit of a fight which went on for almost ten years and culminated in the documentary, ‘Frackman’, which was released in 2015.”

Now residing in Forster, Mr Pratzky is producing a series of videos exploring the ‘war on renewables’, which will include a focus on disinformation permeating the debate around offshore wind.

“I can’t just say ‘no gas’ and not get involved in the solution,” Mr Pratzky said.

“The solution is renewable energy.

“The problem in these situations is that the facts don’t tell themselves, someone has got to tell them.

“All we are getting at the moment is disinformation and lies.”

Mr Pratzky said the Hunter offshore wind proposal has become a “political football”, with debate on the issue poisoned by “tribalism”.

“We have two sides of politics and if one party says the sky is blue, the other party says it is pink.”

Mr Pratzky cites the Opposition’s staunch recent opposition to offshore wind project proposals across Australia as evidence of this.

“We had the Morrison government come out in 2021, and this is actually their plan,” he said.

“Now the Labor government has come in, picked up the baton and said ‘Let’s do this’.

“All of a sudden, the Opposition has turned against it.

“The Coalition are acting like it is the worst idea in the world when it was their own idea.

“That is how you know it is tribal politics at its worst.

“It’s just grandstanding.”

Mr Pratzky also expressed concern that residents’ genuine concerns on projects are being ignored while attention is instead focused on political back and forth.

“The problems we are actually facing (with offshore wind) are not being addressed.

“I went to the last rally they held in Port Stephens (Hawks Nest) and spoke to great people who have genuine concerns.

“Those genuine concerns are being steamrolled.

“They (politicians) are using it (offshore wind) as a division tactic when there are serious problems that need to be addressed which won’t happen while the politicians fight amongst themselves.”

In recent months Mr Pratzky calculates he has spent close to 600 hours researching the transition to renewables across the globe.

His new project takes aim at those he believes are spreading disinformation regarding renewable energy projects.

He cites the use of images of dead whales alongside wind turbines in messaging from anti-wind farm groups as an example.

“Dead whales and wind turbines, what an image.

“Let’s get the facts out on the table.

“Wind turbines do not kill whales.

“Shipping kills whales.

“If you want to talk about whale deaths and shipping, there are 4700 coal boats that head in and out of Newcastle Harbour each year.

“What do we hear about that?

“Crickets, nothing.”

Mr Pratzky is urging politicians and the community to redirect conversations around offshore wind development.

“The projects aren’t perfect, but they are going ahead.

“Let’s get the best out of them.

“We need to progress these things faster so we can start getting some deals going.

“Instead of the conversation going ‘No, no, no’, let’s change the conversation to ‘What is in it for us?’.”

According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Hunter region is uniquely placed for the development of an offshore wind industry due to its “strong grid connections associated with the existing coal fired power stations”, “proximity to areas of high electricity demand from population centres and heavy industry such as the Tomago smelter” and the “potential to support infrastructure via the Port of Newcastle”.

Mr Pratzky believes the offshore wind industry is a “once in a lifetime opportunity” not to be missed.

“Our miners are going to be out of work.

“We saw what happened when BHP left.

“It was devastating for the economy, not just in Newcastle but all the way around it.

“We have the workforce, we have the expertise.

“We can train our miners to transition into this industry (offshore wind).”

Rhys Westbury, a leader in Port Stephens’ burgeoning anti-offshore wind farm movement, said while political involvement has been welcomed to promote the cause, he and the majority of locals are focused purely on achieving a positive outcome for Port Stephens.

“Grassroots initiatives do the best they can to serve their community, but there will always be extraneous input from elsewhere.

“The utmost concern we have, as concerned locals, is to generate awareness and attention to the issue.”

To follow Mr Pratzky’s deep dive into the world of renewable energy, visit www.facebook.com/FrackmanProject1, instagram.com/frackman_project_daynep and www.youtube.com/@thefrackman1.

By Doug CONNOR