Background
-
Queensland’s LNP Government axes coal shutdown targets
-
The LNP’s Energy Roadmap extends coal-fired power beyond the 2050 net-zero deadline
-
Plans include a new gas-fired power plant for Queensland, despite warnings gas emissions far higher than previously estimated
-
The currently legislated 2035 emissions target is for a 75% cut on 2005 levels. The LNP voted for the target in April 2024. The Treasurer claimed on election night in October 2024 that the LNP was “committed” to emissions reduction targets of 75% by 2035 and net zero by 2050. They have effectively broken that promise by committing to coal-fired power beyond 2050.
Quotes attributable to Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman:
"This isn’t pragmatism, it’s straight-up climate vandalism.
"The LNP haven’t just slammed the brakes on Queensland’s clean energy transition, they’ve pulled a massive u-turn and they’re speeding back to the dark ages.
"Frankly, it’s depressing: Queenslanders have a federal Labor Government approving massive new fossil fuel projects like Woodside, and an LNP Government literally using taxpayer dollars to replace planned renewables with coal.
"Queenslanders are already dealing with record floods and severe weather events, and Labor and the LNP are pouring fuel on the fire while their mates in the fossil fuel industry rake in the profits.
"This is what happens when you have an Environment Minister who’s ‘sceptical’ about climate science, a Deputy Premier who’s clearly doing his best Trump impression, and a Premier and Energy Minister who break their promises at a whim.
"Minister Janetzki lied to Queenslanders’ faces on election night, when he promised the LNP was committed to existing climate targets.
"The LNP has cut major renewables projects, poured millions of taxpayer dollars into propping up coal, and stopped measuring renewable energy generation altogether.
"This is not a lifeline to coal communities, it’s a lie. The LNP has removed what little certainty Queenslanders had about our transition from coal, and left workers exposed to sudden, unplanned closures with no plan to replace those jobs.
"The climate deniers in the LNP are happy to delay action until they’re all comfortably retired, leaving it to someone else to clean up their mess.
"The latest climate risk assessment report, which Federal Labor tried to bury, says Queensland is facing deadly heatwaves, flooding 300 days a year, and hundreds of thousands of homes destroyed by sea level rises if we prolong coal and gas.
"I hope this is a massive wakeup call for Queensland Labor - if we want any chance of saving our state from disaster, they need to join the Greens in opposing new coal and gas projects."