The Greens will move amendments to rename the Government’s so-called Energy Roadmap Amendment Act to the Propping Up Coal and Delaying Renewables Amendment Act 2025 when it is debated in Parliament today.
Member for Maiwar Michael Berkman says the LNP isn’t being honest with Queensland taxpayers about the government’s energy plans, and the amended title would more accurately reflect their true agenda.
Background
- The Government’s Energy Roadmap Amendment Bill is being rushed through Queensland Parliament this week, with less than one sitting day’s debate.
- The Bill repeals Queensland’s renewable energy targets, and facilitates the implementation of the Government’s Energy Roadmap, which extends the operation of Queensland’s ageing coal-fired power stations to 2046 and beyond, with taxpayers incurring maintenance costs of $1.6 billion over the next five years alone.
- The Greens’ amendments would amend the “Short title” of the Bill, so that the Act is instead cited and referred to as the Propping Up Coal and Delaying Renewables Amendment Act 2025.
Quotes attributable to Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman:
“I’m sick to death of politicians sugarcoating their bastardry with bureaucratic language. This is not an “energy roadmap”, it’s a plan to spend billions of taxpayer dollars propping up coal and delaying renewables. Let’s call it what it is.
“If this government wants to unwind any progress we’ve made on the renewable energy transition, and pour billions of taxpayers’ dollars into propping up coal, they can at least be honest about it.
“It will cost at least $1.6 billion in just the next 5 years to maintain Queensland’s ageing, unreliable coal-fired power stations, and billions more in rising insurance fees, weather damage and lost economic opportunity.
“This is your taxpayer dollars being spent to line the pockets of fossil fuel executives, all so that the LNP politicians can keep the political donations flowing and secure a nice lobbying job after retirement.
“The government is hiding its abuse of power behind an innocuous, administrative name.
“This amendment is about bringing some honesty back into Parliament.”