The Queensland Greens will move amendments in Parliament this week to increase emissions reduction targets and set a target of 100% publicly owned energy.
Queensland Greens Spokesperson for Energy and the Environment Michael Berkman says Labor’s Energy and Clean Economy bills lock in an escalating climate crisis and a semi-privatised electricity system:
“Labor has copied some of the Greens’ homework, but they’re still falling short of an A.
“The Greens have been calling for a job guarantee and a transition to renewable energy for years, as well as more ambitious emissions targets.
“Based on Labor’s own policy documents, their 2030 target represents just a 1% cut to emissions over the next six years, and their 2035 and 2050 targets are completely out of line with current science.
“We can’t afford the LNP dragging Queensland back into an era of genuine climate denial, but by the same token we can’t afford a 2030 target that’s on par with Scott Morrison’s.
“Labor’s irresponsible 2030 target would lock in more heatwaves, floods, bushfires, widespread mosquito-borne diseases, trashed crops and tourism industry job losses.
“Since coming to power, Labor has approved 38 new coal mines, with 15 more in the pipeline.
“The Government still has no plan for gas, no plan for the resources industry, and no support for workers outside of the Government-owned coal power stations.
“The Greens are calling for a moratorium on new coal and gas, net zero by 2035, and 100% public ownership of our electricity system.
“Labor's bill entrenches a partially privatised electricity system that will continue ripping Queenslanders off, with the Australian Energy Regulator indicating average household power bills could rise to $2,022 this year.
“By bringing electricity retail back into public hands and unifying the energy system under a single public authority, we could permanently cut Queenslanders’ energy bills without having to rely on temporary rebates.”
Background
Queensland Parliament will debate the Government’s Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023 (“Energy Bill”) and the Clean Economy Jobs Bill 2024 (“Clean Economy Bill”) in cognate this week.
Labor’s Energy bill legislates targets for the status quo for ownership of electricity in Queensland, being 54% public ownership of electricity generation assets over 30MW and 100% of transmission, distribution and deep storage, with no target for public ownership of electricity retail (which Labor privatised in 2006).
The Greens will move amendments to the Energy Bill to introduce a long-term target of 100% public ownership including retail, generation, transmission, distribution and deep storage. The amendments state that retail assets should be returned to public ownership by 2030, with generation assets (over 30MW) to reach 75% public ownership by 2035 and the date for full ownership to be set by regulation.
Labor’s Clean Economy Bill legislates emission reduction targets of 30% on 2005 levels by 2030, 75% by 2035 and net zero by 2050. The Government’s own policy documents say Queensland’s emissions have already reduced by 29% since 2005, just 1% less than the 2030 target.
The Greens will move a second reading amendment calling on the Government to set emissions reduction targets in line with current science and Paris Agreement obligations, being 75% by 2030 and net zero by 2035, and to commit to a planned phase-out of all fossil fuel production and export, with an immediate moratorium on new coal and gas approvals.