The Greens have introduced a bill to ban new coal and gas and establish an independent authority to develop a workforce transition plan for a phase-out of fossil fuel exports by 2030.
The Queensland Climate Transition Bill:
- Bans new coal, oil and gas approvals
- Sets stronger emission reduction targets of 75% by 2030 and net zero by 2035
- Creates an independent Queensland Climate Transition Authority to oversee the targets and develop a plan to phase out coal, oil and gas exports by 2030
The Authority will be required to consult and work with coal and gas workers and communities on a fair transition plan, including a job-for-job guarantee and free reskilling.
Greens MP Michael Berkman:
“Labor’s climate targets are still on par with Scott Morrison’s and they have no plan for the mining and exports sector.
“Labor’s climate plans are worthless if they continue to support new coal and gas.
“I’m introducing a bill for a climate action plan that is consistent with the science and will help build Queensland’s future beyond coal and gas.
“If we don’t make these changes Queenslanders will see more floods, fires and heatwaves, higher grocery prices, skyrocketing insurance premiums and sudden job losses.
“One way or another, coal and gas are on the way out.
“The choice is between sudden, unplanned changes or collaborative forward planning for the resources industry.
“Resource workers deserve a plan, a guaranteed job at the same pay and free reskilling.
“The Government has finally promised a fair transition plan for power station employees - there’s no reason they can’t do that for the resources sector.
“Our bill will create a new Transition Authority to work with resource workers and communities on a stable transition plan to replace coal and gas jobs with new opportunities by 2030.”
Background
The State Government’s Energy and Jobs Plan includes a workers charter and Energy Industry Council for employees at government-owned power stations, but no equivalent transition plan, charter or authority exists for the resources and exports industry.
The State Government’s current emissions reduction targets are 30% by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Those targets are similar to the former Morrison Government targets of 26-28% by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
Independent modelling shows the targets are not consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To meet those objectives Australia must reduce its emissions by approximately 74% on 2005 levels by 2030, and reach net zero by the mid 2030s. According to experts including the International Energy Agency, we must also not approve any new coal, oil or gas projects.
More information on the Bill can be found at https://www.michaelberkman.com.au/climatebill.
The protest held by Extinction Rebellion on Wednesday morning demanded no new coal or gas approvals. It included people who have been charged with “disrupting the legislature” for a 2022 protest in the Queensland Parliament chamber. Michael Berkman has been referred to Parliament’s Ethics Committee for a Facebook post about that protest which endorsed the “stop coal, stop gas” message.